§1295. Congressional declaration of policy

It is the policy of the United States that merchant marine vessels of the United States should be operated by highly trained and efficient citizens of the United States and that the United States Navy and the merchant marine of the United States should work closely together to promote the maximum integration of the total seapower forces of the United States. In furtherance of this policy-

(1) the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to take the steps necessary to provide for the education and training of citizens of the United States who are capable of providing for the safe and efficient operation of the merchant marine of the United States at all times and as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency; and

(2) the Secretary of Navy, in cooperation with the Maritime Administrator and the head of each State maritime academy, shall assure that the training of future merchant marine officers at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and at the State maritime academies includes programs for naval science training in the operation of merchant marine vessels as a naval and military auxiliary and that naval officer training programs for the training of future officers, insofar as possible, be maintained at designated maritime academies consistent with United States Navy standards and needs.

(June 29, 1936, ch. 858, §1301, as added Pub. L. 96–453, §2, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 1997 ; amended Pub. L. 97–31, §12(142), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 166 .)

Amendments

1981-Par. (1). Pub. L. 97–31, §12(142)(A), substituted "Secretary of Transportation" for "Secretary of Commerce".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 97–31, §12(142)(B), substituted "Maritime Administrator" for "Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Maritime Affairs".

Effective Date

Section 4 of Pub. L. 96–453 provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter, amending sections 1119 and 1244 of this Appendix, and repealing sections 1126, 1126a–1 to 1126d, 1331 to 1334, and 1381 to 1388 of former Title 46, Shipping] shall take effect on October 1, 1981."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 96–453 provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter, amending sections 1119 and 1244 of this Appendix, and repealing sections 1126, 1126a–1 to 1126d, 1331 to 1334, and 1381 to 1388 of former Title 46, Shipping] may be cited as the 'Maritime Education and Training Act of 1980'."

Maritime Pollution Prevention Training Program Study

Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, §4117, Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 523 , provided that: "The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a Maritime Oil Pollution Prevention Training program to be carried out in cooperation with approved maritime training institutions. The study shall assess the costs and benefits of transferring suitable vessels to selected maritime training institutions, equipping the vessels for oil spill response, and training students in oil pollution response skills. The study shall be completed and transmitted to the Congress no later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 1990]."