Volume 84 · 1675
Public Law 91–603
To amend title 10, United States Code, to further the effectiveness of shipment of goods and supplies in foreign commerce by promoting the welfare of United States merchant seamen through cooperation with the United Seamen’s Service, and for other purposes.
Approved December 31, 1970
Statutory text
AN ACT
To amend title 10, United States Code, to further the effectiveness of shipment of goods and supplies in foreign commerce by promoting the welfare of United States merchant seamen through cooperation with the United Seamen’s Service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act may be cited as the “Seamen’s Service Act”.
Sec. 2.
It is the purpose of this Act, by authorizing appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government to cooperate with the United Seamen’s Service (a nonprofit, charitable organization incorporated under the laws of the State of New York) in the establishment and operation of facilities for United States merchant seamen in foreign areas, to promote the welfare of such seamen, essential to the overall interests of shipment of United States goods and supplies to such areas.
Sec. 3.
Chapter 155 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by adding the following new section at the end thereof:
“§2604. United Seamen’s Service: cooperation and assistance
“(a) Whenever the President finds it necessary in the interest of United States commitments abroad to provide facilities and services for United States merchant seamen in foreign areas, he may authorize the Secretary of Defense, under such regulations as the Secretary’ may prescribe, to cooperate with and assist, the United Seamen’s Service in establishing and providing those facilities and services.
“(b) Personnel of the United Seamen’s Service who are performing duties in connection with the cooperation and assistance under subsection (a) may be furnished—
“(1) transportation, at the expense of the United States, while traveling to and from, and while performing, those duties, in the same manner as civilian employees of the armed forces;
“(2) meals and quarters, at their expense or at the expense of the United Seamen’s Service, except that where civilian employees of the armed forces are quartered without charge, employees of the United Seamen’s Service may also be quartered without charge; and
“(3) available office space (including space for recreational activities for seamen), warehousing, wharfage, and means of communication, without charge.
“(c) No fee may be charged for a passport issued to an employee of
Passport fee, waiver.
the United Seamen’s Service for travel outside the United States to assume or perform duties under this section.
“(d) Supplies of the United Seamen’s Service, including gifts for the use of merchant seamen, may be transported at the expense of the United States, if it is determined under regulations prescribed under subsection (a) that they are necessary to the cooperation and assistance provided under this section,
“(e) Where practicable, the President shall also make arrangements
Currencies, convertibility.
to provide for convertibility of local currencies for the United Seamen’s Service, in connection with its activities under subsection (a j.
“(f) For the purposes of this section, employees of the United Seamen’s Service may not be considered as employees of the United States.”; and
by adding the following new item at the end of the analysis:
Sec. 4.
The Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), as amended, is amended as follows:
By striking out of section 501(a)(2) thereof (46 U.S.C. 1151 (a) (2)) the words “to enable it to operate and maintain” and inserting
in lieu thereof “for the operation and maintenance of”.
By striking out of section 502(a) thereof (46 U.S.C. 1152(a))
Ante, p. 1019.
the words “to enable it to operate and maintain” and inserting in lieu thereof “for the operation and maintenance of”.
By inserting in section 601(a)(2) thereof (46 U.S.C. 1171 (a)(2)) following the word “owns” the words “or leases”.
By inserting in section 601(a)(2) thereof (46 U.S.C. 1171 (a)(2)) following the word “purchase” the words “or lease”,
By striking the last sentence of section 805(d) thereof (46 U.S.C. 1223(d)).
Approved December 31, 1970.