---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 57533"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "57533"
heading: "Vessel chartering authority"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/57533"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part F — Government-Owned Merchant Vessels"
  - "Chapter 575 — Construction, Charter, and Sale of Vessels"
  - "Subchapter III — Miscellaneous"
---

# §57533. Vessel chartering authority


The Secretary of Transportation may enter into contracts or other agreements on behalf of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) to purchase, charter, operate, or otherwise acquire the use of any [vessels](/usc/46/115.md) documented under [chapter 121](/usc/46/chstII-ptH-ch121.md) of this title and any other related real or personal property. The Secretary is authorized to use this authority as the Secretary deems appropriate.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, § 3511(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 593.)