Skip to content
LexBuild

33 USC § 891c - Design of NOAA vessels 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s891c"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 891c - Design of NOAA vessels"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "891c"
section_name: "Design of NOAA vessels"
chapter_number: 17
chapter_name: "NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "NOAA FLEET MODERNIZATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 102–567, title VI, § 605, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4300; Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIV, § 8402(a)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1909.)"
---

# § 891c. Design of NOAA vessels

**(a)** **Design requirement** Except for the vessel designs identified under subsection (b), the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall—

**(1)** prepare requirements for each class of vessel to be constructed or converted under the Plan; and

**(2)** contract competitively from nongovernmental entities with expertise in shipbuilding for vessel design and construction based on the requirements for each class of vessel to be acquired.

**(b)** **Exception** section 891b of this title

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, as part of the annual update of the Plan required in , any existing vessel design or design proposals that meet the requirements of the Plan.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 102–567, title VI, § 605, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4300; Pub. L. 119–60, div. H, title LXXXIV, § 8402(a)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1909.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a). , substituted “acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations” for “working through the Office of the NOAA Corps Operations and the Systems Procurement Office” in introductory provisions.

, substituted “, acting through the Assistant Administrator of NOAA for Marine and Aviation Operations, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives,” for “shall—

“(1) report to Congress identifying any existing vessel design or design proposal that meets the requirements of the Plan within 30 days after , and shall promptly advise the Congress of any modification of these designs; and

“(2) submit to Congress”,

and struck out “subsequent” before “existing vessel design”.