[CHAPTER 1002-2D SESSION] [S. 3796] AN ACT To amend section 4474 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, relating to the use of petroleum as fuel aboard steam vessels. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 4474 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C., title 46, sec. 467), is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4474. When crude petroleum of a flash point not less than one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit is carried in the doublebottom fuel tanks of steamers using the same for fuel, the crude petroleum carried in such tanks in excess of the necessities of the voyage may be discharged at terminal ports when no passengers are on board the ship. Crude petroleum carried and discharged under these conditions will not be considered stores or cargo within the contemplation of section 4472 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C., title 46, sec. 170), and will be considered as only for use as fuel within the contemplation of section 4417a (1) of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U.S. C., title 46, sec. 391a (1))." Approved September 23, 1950. [PUBLIC LAW 856-81ST CONGRESS] [CHAPTER 1093-2D SESSION] [H. R. 8847] AN ACT To aid the development and maintenance of American-flag shipping on the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 12 (a) of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, as amended, is amended by inserting after "in commercial services", in the first sentence thereof the words "and to convert for operation on the Great Lakes, including the Saint Lawrence River and Gulf, and their connecting waterways,' SEC. 2. Section 12 of the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, as amended, is further amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "(e) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized, without regard to the provisions of the last paragraph of section 3 (d) of this Act, to make the allowances provided for by this subsection to purchasers of not more than ten vessels sold pursuant to this Act for exclusive use on the Great Lakes, including the Saint Lawrence River and Gulf and their connecting waterways. The allowances authorized by this. subsection shall be allowances for (1) the fair and reasonable installed value, based on the domestic war cost, as computed by the Secretary, of such equipment on said vessels as is not required for their operation on the Great Lakes, and the cost of the removal thereof, (2) the fair and reasonable cost, as determined by competitive bids from shipyards, of converting, altering, modifying, and equipping such vessels for use as package freight, passenger, and combination freight and passenger vessels, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the purchasers thereof and approved by the Secretary: Provided, however, That the total allowances on any vessel made by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the amounts expended by the purchaser in altering, modifying, converting, and equipping such vessel, plus the allowances provided for in clause (1) of this subsection, and in no event shall such allowances exceed 90 per centum of the unadjusted statutory sales price: Provided further, That the purchaser shall be required to accept delivery of such vessel at the reserve fleet site or such other place as such vessel may be located at the time of purchase." SEC. 3. Contracts for the sale of vessels for exclusive use on the Great Lakes, including the Saint Lawrence River and Gulf and their connecting waterways, may be made until December 31, 1950. Such contracts shall require that transfer to the Great Lakes of such vessels by the buyers shall be completed by December 31, 1951. SEC. 4. (a) Section 1104 (a) (2) of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, is amended by inserting after the word "advance" a comma and the following: "or, in the case of vessels purchased pursuant to the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, as amended, for exclusive use on the Great Lakes, involve an obligation in a principal amount which does not exceed 75 per centum of the net purchase price of such vessels plus the amounts expended for altering, modifying, converting, and equipping such vessels in excess of that purchase price". (b) Section 1104 (a) (7) of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, is amended by inserting after "maintenance," the following: "purchase of a vessel for use on the Great Lakes pursuant to the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, as amended,". (c) Section 1104 (a) (8) of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, is amended by inserting after the word "financing" the following: "the purchase by citizens of the United States of vessels for use on the Great Lakes pursuant to the Merchant Ship Sales Act of 1946, as amended, or". Approved September 28, 1950. [CHAPTER 1136-2D SESSION] [H. R. 483] AN ACT To extend the time limit within which certain suits in admiralty may be brought against the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 5 of the Suits in Admiralty Act (41 Stat. 525, 46 U. S. C. 741-745), approved March 9, 1920, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 5. That suits as herein authorized may be brought only within two years after the cause of action arises: Provided, That where a remedy is provided by this Act it shall hereafter be exclusive of any other action by reason of the same subject matter against the agent or employee of the United States or of any incorporated or unincorporated agency thereof whose act or omission gave rise to the claim: Provided further, That the limitations contained in this section for the commencement of suits shall not bar any suit against the United States brought hereunder within one year after the enactment of this amendatory Act if such suit is based upon a cause of action whereon a prior suit in admiralty or an action at law was timely commenced and was or may hereafter be dismissed solely because improperly brought against any person, partnership, association, or corporation engaged by the United States to manage and conduct the business of a vessel owned or bareboat chartered by the United States or against the master of any such vessel: And provided further, That after June 30, 1932, no interest shall be allowed on any claim prior to the time when suit on such claim is brought as authorized by section 2 of this Act unless upon a contract expressly stipulating for the payment of interest." Approved December 13, 1950. [CHAPTER 1155-2d SessioN] [H. R. 9681] To authorize the waiver of the navigation and vessel-inspection laws. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the head of each department or agency responsible for the administration of the navigation and vessel-inspection laws is directed to waive compliance with such laws upon the request of the Secretary of Defense to the extent deemed necessary in the interest of national defense by the Secretary of Defense. The head of such department or agency is authorized to waive compliance with such laws to such extent and in such manner and upon such terms as he may prescribe, either upon his own initiative or upon the written recommendation of the head of any other Government agency, whenever he deems that such action is necessary in the interest of national defense. SEC. 2. The authority granted by this Act shall terminate at such time as the Congress by concurrent resolution or the President may designate. SEC. 3. The joint resolution entitled "Joint resolution authorizing the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard to waive compliance with the navigation and vessel-inspection laws administered by the Coast Guard", approved March 31, 1947 (61 Stat. 33), as amended, is repealed. Approved December 27, 1950. |