40 USC § 558 - Donation of forfeited vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t40/s558"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "40 USC § 558 - Donation of forfeited vessels"
title_number: 40
title_name: "PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS"
section_number: "558"
section_name: "Donation of forfeited vessels"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "PROPERTY MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "DISPOSING OF PROPERTY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1103.)"
---


# § 558. Donation of forfeited vessels

**(a)** **In General.—** A vessel that is forfeited to the Federal Government may be donated, in accordance with procedures under this subtitle, to an eligible institution described in subsection (b).

**(b)** **Eligible Institution.—** An eligible institution referred to in subsection (a) is an educational institution with a commercial fishing vessel safety program or other vessel safety, education and training program. The institution must certify to the federal officer making the donation that the program includes, at a minimum, all of the following courses in vessel safety:

**(1)** Vessel stability.

**(2)** Firefighting.

**(3)** Shipboard first aid.

**(4)** Marine safety and survival.

**(5)** Seamanship rules of the road.

**(c)** **Terms and Conditions.—** The donation of a vessel under this section shall be made on terms and conditions considered appropriate by the federal officer making the donation. All of the following terms and conditions are required:

**(1)** **No warranty.—** The institution must accept the vessel as is, where it is, and without warranty of any kind and without any representation as to its condition or suitability for use.

**(2)** **Maintenance.—** The institution is responsible for maintaining the vessel.

**(3)** **Instruction only.—** The vessel may be used only for instructing students in a vessel safety education and training program.

**(4)** **Documentation.—** If the vessel is eligible to be documented, it must be documented by the institution as a vessel of the United States under chapter 121 of title 46. The requirements of paragraph (5) must be noted on the permanent record of the vessel.

**(5)** **Disposal.—** The institution must obtain prior approval from the Administrator of General Services before disposing of the vessel and any proceeds from disposal shall be payable to the Government.

**(6)** **Inspection or regulation.—** The vessel shall be inspected or regulated in the same manner as a nautical school vessel under chapter 33 of title 46.

**(d)** **Government Liability.—** The Government is not liable in an action arising out of the transfer or use of a vessel transferred under this section.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 107–217, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1103.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 558 | 40:484d. | Pub. L. 99–640, § 13(a)–(c), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3551. |

In subsection (b), the words “all of” are inserted for clarity.