StacksVerified U.S. regulatory reference

46 U.S.C. § 56501

Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
In this chapter, the term “essential vessel” means a vessel that is—
  1. (1)
    1. (A)security for a mortgage indebtedness to the United States Government; or
    2. (B)constructed under this subtitle or required by a contract under this subtitle to be operated on a certain essential foreign trade route; and
  2. (2)necessary in the interests of commerce and national defense to be maintained in condition for prompt use.