
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 50USC196]

 
                   TITLE 50--WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
       CHAPTER 12--VESSELS IN TERRITORIAL WATERS OF UNITED STATES
 
Sec. 196. Emergency foreign vessel acquisition; purchase or 
        requisition of vessels lying idle in United States waters
        
    During any period in which vessels may be requisitioned under 
section 1242 of title 46, Appendix, the President is authorized and 
empowered through the Secretary of Transportation to purchase, or to 
requisition, or for any part of such period to charter or requisition 
the use of, or to take over the title to or possession of, for such use 
or disposition as he shall direct, any merchant vessel not owned by 
citizens of the United States which is lying idle in waters within the 
jurisdiction of the United States and which the President finds to be 
necessary to the national defense. Just compensation shall be determined 
and made to the owner or owners of any such vessel in accordance with 
the applicable provisions of section 1242 of title 46, Appendix. Such 
compensation hereunder, or advances on account thereof, shall be 
deposited with the Treasurer of the United States in a separate deposit 
fund. Payments for such compensation and also for payment of any valid 
claim upon such vessel in accord with the provisions of the second 
paragraph of subsection (d) of section 1242 of title 46, Appendix, shall 
be made from such fund upon the certificate of the Secretary of 
Transportation.

(Aug. 9, 1954, ch. 659, Sec. 1, 68 Stat. 675; Pub. L. 96-70, title III, 
Sec. 3302(c), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 97-31, Sec. 12(152), 
Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 167.)


                               Amendments

    1981--Pub. L. 97-31 substituted references to Secretary of 
Transportation for references to Secretary of Commerce wherever 
appearing.
    1979--Pub. L. 96-70 struck out ``, including the Canal Zone,'' after 
``jurisdiction of the United States''.


                    Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 96-70 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 
of Pub. L. 96-70, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3601 
of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 198 of this title.
