Cable Security Fleet Program

The CSF helps sustain a fleet of cable vessels active, commercially viable, privately-owned cable vessels operating under U.S. registry to meet national security requirements. Participating operators are required to make their ships and commercial submarine cable services available during times of national emergency.

Applicant must be vessel’s registered owner one of the following: 1. Vessel owned and operated by United States citizens, known as 50501 Citizens, within the meaning of Section 50501 of Title 46, United States Code; 2.Vessel owned by a U.S. citizen, known as a 50501 Citizen, under 46 U.S.C. 50501 or United States Citizen Trust under 46 U.S.C. 53201(11) and chartered to a United States citizen eligible to document vessels, under Chapter 121 of Title 46, subject to: a. Verifications of the U.S.-citizenship of the board and principal officers of the charterer; and b. Certifications by the charterer that no treaty, statute, or person would influence the vessel's operations in a Start Printed Page 356 manner contrary to the interests of the United States; 3. Vessel owned and operated by an entity that contracts with the Department of Defense to operate vessels for, or charters vessels to, the United States; or 4.Vessel owned by a Documentation Citizen and chartered to a 50501 Citizen.

If MARAD deems an applicant and its proposed vessel to be most qualified for the CSF, then MARAD will negotiate and enter into an Operating Agreement with the applicant for one year, subject to the availability of appropriations with payment for participation at the annual rate of $5 million after the availability of funding and execution of agreements as provided by statute and appropriation.