40 U.S.C. § 558 — Donation of forfeited vessels

(a) A vessel forfeited to the Federal Government may be donated under this subtitle’s procedures to an eligible institution under subsection (b).
(b) An eligible institution is an educational institution with a commercial-fishing-vessel safety program or another vessel-safety, education, and training program. It must certify to the Federal officer making the donation that the program includes at least these vessel-safety courses: (1) vessel stability; (2) firefighting; (3) shipboard first aid; (4) marine safety and survival; and (5) seamanship rules of the road.
(c) Terms and conditions. The Federal officer may set appropriate terms and conditions, but must require:
(1) No warranty. The institution accepts the vessel as is, where it is, without any warranty or representation about its condition or suitability.
(2) Maintenance. The institution must maintain it.
(3) Instruction only. It may be used only to teach students in a vessel-safety education and training program.
(4) Documentation. If eligible for documentation, the institution must document it as a United States vessel under chapter 121 of title 46, and the paragraph (5) requirements must appear on its permanent record.
(5) Disposal. The institution must get the General Services Administrator’s approval before disposing of it, and disposal proceeds must be paid to the Government.
(6) Inspection or regulation. It must be inspected or regulated like a nautical-school vessel under chapter 33 of title 46.
(d) Government liability. The Government is not liable in an action arising from transferring or using a vessel transferred under this section.