10 USC § 8702 - Acquisition and transfer of vessels and equipment

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s8702"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 8702 - Acquisition and transfer of vessels and equipment"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "8702"
section_name: "Acquisition and transfer of vessels and equipment"
chapter_number: 865
chapter_name: "SALVAGE FACILITIES"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "GENERAL ADMINISTRATION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, § 1015, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 424, § 7362; renumbered § 8702, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(d)(3), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1836; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1834(i)(5), as added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(n)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2145; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1876(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4291; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(n)(3), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2146.)"
---


# § 8702. Acquisition and transfer of vessels and equipment

**(a)** **Authority.—** The Secretary of the Navy may acquire or transfer for operation by private salvage companies such vessels and equipment as the Secretary considers necessary.

**(b)** **Agreement on Use.—** Before any salvage vessel or salvage gear is transferred by the Secretary to a private party, the private party must agree in writing with the Secretary 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.

**(c)** **Reference to Authority To Advance Funds for Immediate Salvage Operations.—** For authority for the Secretary of the Navy to advance to private salvage companies such funds as the Secretary considers necessary to provide for the immediate financing of salvage operations, see section 3808(b) of this title.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, § 1015, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 424, § 7362; renumbered § 8702, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(d)(3), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1836; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1834(i)(5), as added Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(n)(2), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2145; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1876(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4291; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(n)(3), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2146.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c). , which directed striking the first two words of the subsec. heading, striking the text of subsec. (c) and inserting the text of par. (2) of , and substituting “this subsection” for “this paragraph” in the second sentence thereof, was repealed by , effective as if included in title XVIII of .

, as added by , which directed substitution of “section 3808(b)” for “section 2307(g)(2)” in section 8702(c), without specifying the Code title to be amended, was executed to subsec. (c) of this section to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2018— renumbered  as this section.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of  as enacted, see , set out in a note preceding  and note below.

Amendment by  effective , with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see , set out as a note preceding .

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .