§ 558 — Donation Of Forfeited Vessels

(a) 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) 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) 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) 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) The institution is responsible for maintaining the vessel. (3) The vessel may be used only for instructing students in a vessel safety education and training program. (4) 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) 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) The vessel shall be inspected or regulated in the same manner as a nautical school vessel under chapter 33 of title 46. (d) The Government is not liable in an action arising out of the transfer or use of a vessel transferred under this section.