§ 53503. Establishing a capital construction fund

• (a) A citizen of the United States owning or leasing an eligible vessel may make an agreement with the Secretary under this chapter to establish a capital construction fund for the vessel.
• (b) The purpose of the agreement shall be to provide replacement vessels, additional vessels, or reconstructed vessels, built in the United States and documented under the laws of the United States, for operation in the United States foreign, Great Lakes, noncontiguous domestic, or short sea transportation trade or in the fisheries of the United States.