96 STAT. 1718
PUBLIC LAW 97-360—OCT. 22, 1982
Public Law 97-360 97th Congress An Act Oct. 22, 1982 [H.R. 4828] Certain surplus vessels for health services to developing countries.
Vessel return to U.S.
To set aside certain surplus vessels for use in the provision of health and other humanitarian services to developing countries.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress finds that it is in the national interest to make suitable surplus Government vessels available for use by private nonprofit organizations in providing health education, training, care, and technical assistance as well as other humanitarian services to the peoples of developing countries. SEC. 2. Within ninety days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall designate the vessels listed in section 6 as humanitarian service candidates. SEC. 3. Except as provided in section 4, the vessels listed in section 6 may not be removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet. SEC. 4. The vessels listed in section 6 may be removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet for either of the following reasons: (a) When the Secretary determines that one or more of the vessels are required for national security purposes, or (b) Upon the application of LIFE International, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia, the Secretary may transfer one or more of the vessels to LIFE International upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe. SEC. 5. During such time as any one of the vessels is in the possession of LIFE International, it shall be operated as an eleemosynary vessel primarily engaged in providing health education, training, care, technical assistance, and other humanitarian services to the peoples of developing countries. No such vessel may be used for commercial transportation purposes. In the event that LIFE International no longer requires a vessel for the purposes of this Act, that vessel shall be conveyed back to the United States in as good condition as when received, ordinary wear and tear excepted, to the point of original delivery without cost to the United States.
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