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455 CHAPTER 637.—SALVAGE FACILITIES Sec.
7361. 7362. 7363. 7364. 7365. 7366. 7367.
Naval salvage facilities: contracts for commercial facilities. Commercial use of naval facilities. Transfer of equipment: contract provisions. Advancement of funds for salvage operations. Settlement of claims. Limitation on appropriations. Disposition of receipts.
§7361.
Naval salvage facilities: contracts for commercial facilities (a) The Secretary of the Navy may provide, by contract or otherwise, necessary salvage facilities for public and private vessels upon such terms as he determines to be in the best interest of the United States. (b) The Secretary shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce for recommendation and comment each proposed contract for salvage facilities that affects the interests of the Department of Commerce. (c) Term contracts for salvage facilities may be made under this section only if— (1) the Secretary of the Navy determines that available commercial salvage facilities are inadequate to meet the requirements of national defense; and (2) public notice of the intention to enter into the contracts has been given in a manner and for a period that will, in the Secretary's judgment, provide the maximum competition for such contracts among commercial salvage organizations. § 7362. Commercial use of naval facilities The Secretary of the Navy may acquire or transfer, by charter or otherwise, for operation by private salvage companies, such vessels and equipment as he considers necessary. § 7363. Transfer of equipment: contract provisions Before any salvage vessel or salvage gear is sold, chartered, leased, lent, or otherwise transferred by the Department of the Navy to any private party, the transferee must agree in writing with the Department that the vessel or gear will be used to support organized offshore salvage facilities for a period of as many years as the Secretary considers appropriate. The agreement shall contain such other provisions as the Secretary considers appropriate to assure the fulfillment of the undertaking. § 7364. Advancement of funds for salvage operations The Secretary of the Navy may advance to private salvage companies such funds as he considers necessary to provide for the immediate financing of salvage operations. These advances shall be made on terms that the Secretary considers adequate for the protection of the United States. 81913 0 — 5 6
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