[CHAPTER 949-2D SESSION] [H. R. 5552] AN ACT Relating to the sale by the United States of surplus vessels suitable for fishing, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That vessels which are determined to be surplus property under the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended, and which are suitable for use as fishing vessels shall not be disposed of until offered for sale by the United States Maritime Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") in accordance with the provisions of this Act. SEC. 2. (a) As used in this Act the term "former owners" means former owners of fishing vessels purchased or requisitioned by the United States who on or before the date of the enactment of this Act bave not been notified that their vessels may be returned to them under the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the return to private ownership of certain vessels formerly used or suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto", approved April 29, 1943, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, Supp. IV, title 50, App., sec. 1801). (b) Former owners shall be given notice by the Commission, in such manner (which may include publication) as it may prescribe, that vessels suitable for use as fishing vessels are to be disposed of by the United States and shall be entitled to purchase such vessels at private sale within a reasonable time after such notice. Such reasonable time shall be specified in the notice but may be extended by the Commission when it appears to it that an extension is necessary or appropriate to facilitate the sale of any vessel or vessels under this Act. SEC. 3. (a) Sales of vessels to former owners under this Act shall be upon such terms and conditions as the Commission deems proper. (b) Any vessels suitable for use as fishing vessels not disposed of by the Commission as provided in this Act shall be disposed of as otherwise provided by law. Approved August 10, 1946. [CHAPTER 6-1ST SESSION] [H. J. Res. 114] JOINT RESOLUTION To continue the authority of the Maritime Commission to operate vessels until July 1, 1947. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That notwithstanding any other provision of law any temporary authority issued or to be issued by an appropriate Government agency to the United States Maritime Commission to provide service as a carrier by water may be valid for a period not extending beyond July 1, 1947. SEO. 2. The paragraph under the head "United States Maritime Commission" in title I of the Third Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1946, is hereby amended by striking out "March 1, 1947" and inserting in lieu thereof "July 1, 1947". Approved February 26, 1947. [CHAPTER 12-1ST SESSION] [H. J. Res. 122] JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the United States Maritime Commission to make provision for certain ocean transportation service to and from Alaska until July 1, 1948, and for other purposes. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to provide essential water transportation service for the Territory of Alaska pending the determination of long-range policy with respect to such transportation, the United States Maritime Commission is authorized to enter into appropriate contracts, charters, and other arrangements with American citizens operating American flag-line vessels deemed by the Commission to be qualified to supply such service until July 1, 1948. Such contracts or arrangements shall include provisions for making available to such operators Government-owned vessels under the control or jurisdiction of the United States Maritime Commission for operation during the period ending June 30, 1948. Such provisions may include charter hire at a nominal rate or rates, with necessary marine insurance to be provided by the Commission as to ships made available by the Commission and other ships operated by such operators in the Alaska service under the contracts or arrangements with the Commission. Such provisions may likewise include requirements that the operators shall agree to operate such ships in a manner as determined by the Commission to secure the most economical transportation for the Alaska service. The contracts or other arrangements shall include appropriate provisions for allocation of receipts from the operations of such ships. Such contracts or arrangements shall include, among such other requirements as the Commission may deem appropriate, provision for the application of such receipts to meet the operating costs and overhead expenses of the operator as approved by the Commission and an amount equal to the charter hire paid by the Commission for the use of the existing privately owned vessels, and in the case of vessels acquired subsequent to the enactment of this Act an amount equivalent to 15 per centum per annum of the purchase price of said vessel plus capitalized betterments, and amounts in excess thereof to become the property of the operators in amounts not in excess of 10 per centum (before taxes) on the value of the assets (other than vessels) contributed to the venture by the operator as determined by the Commission for the purposes hereof and not otherwise. Any amount in excess of such 10 per centum shall be applied first to meet the insurance expenses of the Commission, and any balance shall be applied or distributed as may be provided by the terms of the contracts or arrangements, but in no event shall the Commission receive less than 75 per centum of such balance, as additional charter hire. SEO. 2. The Commission shall report to the Congress at intervals of not greater than ninety days all contracts, charters, and other arrangements entered into pursuant to this Act and the details and course of all operations which have been conducted thereunder. Approved March 7, 1947. [CHAPTER 28-1ST SESSION] (H. R. 1240] AN ACT To provide for the suspension of navigation and vessel inspection laws, as applied to vessels operated by the War Department, upon the termination of title V, Second War Powers Act, 1942, as amended. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That upon the termination of title V of the Second War Powers Act, 1942, as last amended by the Act of June 29, 1946 (Public Law 475, Seventy-ninth Congress), and upon request of the Secretary of War to the head of each department or agency responsible for the administration of navigation and vessel inspection laws, the operation of all such laws of which suspension is so requested shall be suspended in relation to all vessels operated by the War Department as to which such suspension has been requested': Provided, That such suspension shall be effective only until December 31, 1947. Approved March 31, 1947. [PUBLIC LAW 119-80TH CONGRESS] [H. R. 1344] AN ACT To admit the American-owned ferry Crosline to American registry and to permit its use in coast wise trade. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, not withstanding the provisions of section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, as amended (U. S. C., 1940 edition, title 46, sec. 883), the ferry Crosline, owned by the State of Washington, shall be admitted to American registry, and shall be entitled to engage in the coastwise trade and to transport passengers and merchandise between points in the United States, including Districts, Territories, and possessions thereof embraced within the coast wise laws. Approved June 26, 1947. |