PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 112 STAT. 2273 SEC. 3603. AUTHORITY TO CONVEY CERTAIN NATIONAL DEFENSE RESERVE FLEET VESSELS. (a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY. — The Secretary of Transportation may convey all right, title, and interest of the United States Government in and to the vessels BENJAMIN ISHERWOOD (TAO-191) and HENRY ECKFORD (TAG-192) to a purchaser for the limited purpose of reconstruction of those vessels for sale or charter to a North Atlantic Treaty Grganization country for full use as an oiler. (b) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE. — (1) DELIVERY OF VESSEL.— In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall deliver the vessel— (A) at the place where the vessel is located on the date of the conveyance; (B) in its condition on that date; and (C) at no cost to the United States Government. (2) REQUIRED CONDITIONS. —The Secretary may not convey a vessel under this section unless— (A) competitive procedures are used for sales under this section; (B) the vessel is sold for not less than the fair market value of the vessel in the United States, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation; (C) the recipient agrees that any repair, except for emergency repairs, restoration, or reconstruction work for the vessel will be performed in the United States; (D) the recipient agrees to hold the Government harmless for any claims arising from defects in the vessel or from exposure to hazardous material, including asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls, after the conveyance of the vessel, except for claims arising before the date of the conveyance or from use of the vessel by the Government after that date; (E) the recipient provides sufficient evidence to the Secretary that it has adequate financial resources in the form of cash, liquid assets, or a written loan commitment to complete the reconstruction of the vessel; and (F) with respect to the vessel, the recipient remains J subject to all laws and regulations governing the export ^ of military items, including the requirements administered by the Department of State regarding export licenses and certification of nontransfer end use. (3) ADDITIONAL TERMS.—The Secretary may require such additional terms in connection with a conveyance authorized by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) PROCEEDS. — Any amounts received by the United States as proceeds from the sale of a vessel under this section shall be deposited in the Vessel Operations Revolving Fund established by section 801 of the Act of June 2, 1951 (65 Stat. 59; 46 U.S.C. App. 1241a) and shall be available and expended in accordance with section 6(a) of the National Maritime Heritage Act (16 U.S.C. App. 5405(a)). SEC. 3604. CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MARITIME INFORMATION. Of the amount authorized to be appropriated pursuant to section 3601(1) for operations of the Maritime Administration, $75,000
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