§8661. Classification
The President may establish, and from time to time modify, as the needs of the service require, a classification of naval vessels.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041,
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 7291 | 34 U.S.C. 451 (as applicable to classification of vessels). | Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 852 (last par. as applicable to classification of vessels), |
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018-
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by
Policy of the United States on Minimum Number of Battle Force Ships
"(a)
"(1) to have available, as soon as practicable, not fewer than 355 battle force ships, comprised of the optimal mix of platforms, with funding subject to the availability of appropriations or other funds; and
"(2) that the United States shipbuilding defense industrial base is fundamental to achieving the shipbuilding requirements of the Navy and constitutes a unique national security imperative that requires sustainment and support by the Navy and Congress.
"(b)
Metering of Navy Piers to Accurately Measure Energy Consumption
"(a)
"(b)
Advance Procurement Funding
"(a)
"(1) Components, parts, or materiel.
"(2) Production planning and other related support services that reduce the overall procurement lead time of such vessel."
Assessments Required Prior to Start of Construction on First Ship of a Shipbuilding Program
Fast Sealift Program
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) The Secretary of the Navy shall establish the design requirements for vessels to be constructed or converted under the program.
"(2) In establishing the design requirements for vessels to be constructed or converted under the program, the Secretary shall use commercial design standards and shall consult with the Administrator of the Maritime Administration.
"(3) Construction or conversion of the vessels shall be accomplished in private United States shipyards.
"(4) The vessels constructed or converted under the program shall incorporate propulsion systems whose main components (that is, the engines, reduction gears, and propellers) are manufactured in the United States.
"(5) The vessels constructed or converted under the program shall incorporate bridge and machinery control systems and interior communications equipment which-
"(A) are manufactured in the United States; and
"(B) have more than half of their value, in terms of cost, added in the United States.
"(6) The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement of paragraph (5) with respect to a system or equipment described in that paragraph if-
"(A) the system or equipment is not available; or
"(B) the costs of compliance would be unreasonable compared to the costs of purchase from a foreign manufacturer.
"(c)
"(A) shall not permit the operation of the vessel other than in the foreign commerce of the United States;
"(B) may be made only with an individual or entity that is a citizen of the United States (which, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or association, shall be determined in the manner specified in section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 ([former] 46 U.S.C. App. 802)) [see 46 U.S.C. 50501]; and
"(C) shall require that the vessel be documented (and remain documented) under the laws of the United States.
"(2) The Secretary may enter into a charter under paragraph (1) only through the use of competitive bidding procedures that ensure that the highest charter rates are obtained by the United States consistent with good business practice, except that the Secretary may operate the vessel (or contract to have the vessel operated) in direct support of United States military forces during a time of war or national emergency and at other times when the Administrator of the Maritime Administration determines that that operation would not unfairly compete with another United States-flag vessel.
"(3) If the Secretary determines that a vessel previously chartered under the program no longer has commercial utility, the Secretary may transfer the vessel to the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
"(4) A contract for the charter of a vessel under paragraph (1) shall include a provision that the charter may be terminated for national security reasons without cost to the United States.
"(d)
"(2) Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the plan described in the report submitted under paragraph (1). The report shall include a description of vessels built or under contract to be built pursuant to this section, the use of such vessels, and the operating experience and manning of such vessels.
"(3) The reports under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be prepared in consultation with the Administrator of the Maritime Administration.
"(e)
Funding for Ship Production Engineering
"(a)
"(b)
Repair of Vessels in Foreign Shipyards
Encouragement of Construction in United States Shipyards of Combatant Vessels for United States Allies
"(a)
"(1) to encourage United States shipyards to construct combatant vessels for nations friendly to the United States, subject to the requirement to safeguard sensitive warship technology; and
"(2) to ensure that no effort is made by any element of the Department of the Navy to inhibit, delay, or halt the provision of any United States naval system to a nation allied with the United States if that system is approved for export to a foreign nation, unless approval of such system for export is withheld solely for the purpose of safeguarding sensitive warship technology;
"(3) if opportunities arise to construct combatant vessels (including diesel submarines) outside the United States in a shipyard of a friendly foreign nation, with some or all of the costs provided by United States funds-
"(A) to encourage United States firms to participate in such construction to the maximum extent possible, subject to the requirement to safeguard sensitive warship technology; and
"(B) to ensure, whenever practicable, that at least 51 percent of the dollar value of such construction is provided by United States firms.
"(b)
Six-Hundred-Ship Goal for Navy; Sense of Congress
"(1) A larger and stronger American Navy is needed as an essential ingredient of our Armed Forces, in order to fulfill its basic missions of (A) protecting the sea lanes to preserve the safety of the free world's commerce, (B) assuring continued access to raw materials essential to the well-being of the free world, (C) enhancing our capacity to project effective American forces into regions of the world where the vital interests of the United States must be protected, (D) engaging the Navy of the Soviet Union or any other potential adversary successfully, (E) continuing to serve as a viable leg of our strategic triad, and (F) providing visible evidence of American diplomatic, economic and military commitments throughout the world.
"(2) In order to conduct the numerous and growing missions of the modern American Navy, a goal of a naval inventory of approximately six hundred active ships of various types by the end of the century at the latest, is highly desirable, the exact figure to be flexible to accommodate new designs as the specific details of our naval missions evolve to meet various contingencies.
"(3) The Secretary of Defense comply with section 808 of
Tonnage Balance for Construction of Ships; Repeal