46 U.S.C. § 53108 — Regulatory relief

(a) Operation in Foreign Commerce^*. A contractor^* for a vessel^* included in an operating agreement under this chapter may operate the vessel without restriction in the foreign commerce of the United States^*.

(b) Other Restrictions. Section 55305(a) of this title restricts building, rebuilding, or documenting a vessel in a foreign country. Those restrictions do not apply to a vessel on any day when its operator receives payments for operating that vessel under an operating agreement under this chapter.

(c) Telecommunications Equipment. The telecommunications and other electronic equipment on an existing vessel that is redocumented under United States law for operation under an operating agreement under this chapter is treated as meeting all Federal Communications Commission equipment-certification requirements if—

(1) the equipment complies with all applicable international agreements and related guidelines, as determined by the country where the vessel was documented immediately before becoming documented under United States law;

(2) that country has not been identified by the Secretary^* as inadequately enforcing international regulations as to that vessel; and

(3) when the equipment reaches the end of its useful life, it will be replaced with equipment that meets Federal Communications Commission equipment-certification standards.