(a)
(2) The Fleet described under this section shall include two vessels.
(b)
(1) the vessel meets the requirements of paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (c);
(2) the vessel is operated (or in the case of a vessel to be constructed, will be operated) in commercial service providing cable services;
(3) the vessel is 40 years of age or less on the date the vessel is included in the Fleet;
(4) the vessel is-
(A) determined by the Operating Agency to be suitable for engaging in cable services by the United States in the interest of national security; and
(B) determined by the Secretary to be commercially viable, whether independently or taking any payments which are the consequence of participation in the Cable Fleet into account; and
(5) the vessel-
(A) is a United States-documented vessel; or
(B) is not a United States-documented vessel, but-
(i) the owner of the vessel has demonstrated an intent to have the vessel documented under chapter 121 of this title if it is included in the Cable Fleet; and
(ii) at the time an Operating Agreement is entered into under this chapter, the vessel is eligible for documentation under chapter 121 of this title.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(A) during the period of an Operating Agreement under this chapter that applies to the vessel, the vessel will be-
(i) owned by a person that is a citizen of the United States under section 50501 of this title or that is a United States citizen trust; and
(ii) demise chartered to and operated by a person-
(I) that is eligible to document the vessel under chapter 121 of this title;
(II) the chairman of the board of directors, chief executive officer, and a majority of the members of the board of directors of which are citizens of the United States under section 50501 of this title, and are appointed and subject to removal only upon approval by the Secretary; and
(III) that certifies to the Secretary that there are no treaties, statutes, regulations, or other laws that would prohibit the Contractor for the vessel from performing its obligations under an Operating Agreement under this chapter;
(B) in the case of a vessel that will be demise chartered to a person that is owned or controlled by another person that is not a citizen of the United States under section 50501 of this title, the other person enters into an agreement with the Secretary not to influence the operation of the vessel in a manner that will adversely affect the interests of the United States; and
(C) the Secretary and the Operating Agency notify the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives that they concur, and have reviewed the certification required under subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) and determined that there are no legal, operational, or other impediments that would prohibit the Contractor for the vessel from performing its obligations under an Operating Agreement under this chapter.
(3)
(A) during the period of an Operating Agreement under this chapter that applies to the vessel, the vessel will be owned and operated by a person that-
(i) is eligible to document a vessel under chapter 121 of this title;
(ii) operates or manages other United States-documented vessels for the Secretary of Defense, or charters other vessels to the Secretary of Defense;
(iii) has entered into a special security agreement for purposes of this paragraph with the Secretary of Defense;
(iv) makes the certification described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii)(III); and
(v) in the case of a vessel described in paragraph (2)(B), enters into an agreement referred to in that paragraph; and
(B) the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense notify the Committee on Armed Services and Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives that they have reviewed the certification required by subparagraph (A)(iv) and determined that there are no other legal, operational, or other impediments that would prohibit the Contractor for the vessel from performing its obligations under an Operating Agreement under this chapter.
(4)
(A) owned by a person that is eligible to document a vessel under chapter 121 of this title; and
(B) demise chartered to a person that is a citizen of the United States under section 50501 of this title.
(d)
(1)
(A) the vessel is classed by, and designed in accordance with the rules of, the American Bureau of Shipping, or another classification society accepted by that Secretary;
(B) the vessel complies with applicable international agreements and associated guidelines, as determined by the country in which the vessel was documented immediately before becoming documented under chapter 121; and
(C) that country has not been identified by that Secretary as inadequately enforcing international vessel regulations as to that vessel.
(2)
(3)
(A)
(B)
(i) to the extent that the government of the foreign country in which the society is headquartered provides access on a reciprocal basis to the American Bureau of Shipping; and
(ii) if the foreign classification society has offices and maintains records in the United States.
(e)
(1) is in the national interest;
(2) the subject cable vessel and any associated operating network is and will continue to be economically viable; and
(3) is necessary due to the lack of availability of other vessels and operators that comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(Added
The date of enactment of the Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), means the date of enactment of