46 USC § 53409 - Special rule regarding age of participating Fleet vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s53409"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 53409 - Special rule regarding age of participating Fleet vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "53409"
section_name: "Special rule regarding age of participating Fleet vessels"
chapter_number: 534
chapter_name: "TANKER SECURITY FLEET"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Financial Assistance Programs"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXV, § 3511(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4418.)"
---


# § 53409. Special rule regarding age of participating Fleet vessels

section 53402(b)(4) of this titlesection 53402(b) of this title

Any age restriction under  shall not apply to a participating Fleet vessel during the 30-month period beginning on the date the vessel begins operating under an operating agreement under this chapter, if the Secretary determines that the program participant for the vessel has entered into an arrangement to obtain and operate under the operating agreement for the participating Fleet vessel a replacement vessel that, upon commencement of such operation, will be eligible to be included in the Fleet under .

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXV, § 3511(a), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4418.)