Any vessel within one of the following categories shall be eligible for insurance, but shall remain eligible only while meeting the qualifications criteria in one of said categories. An eligible vessel is not insured unless and until an application is submitted as required in subpart B, C, or D of this part 308 and the Maritime Administrator, Department of Transportation, (Maritime Administrator) Maritime Administration (MARAD), approves said application.

(a) A vessel registered, enrolled, or licensed under the laws of the United States of America (United States); any undocumented vessel owned or chartered by or made available to the United States or any department or agency thereof; any tug or barge or other watercraft (documented under the laws of the United States, or undocumented) owned by a citizen of the United States and used in essential water transportation; and United States citizen-owned watercraft used in the fishing trade or industry, except when used exclusively in or for sport fishing.

(b) Any vessel, other than a vessel described in paragraph (a) of this section determined by the Maritime Administrator to be engaged in the national defense or the national economy of the United States and subject to an unqualified Contract of Commitment with the United States in a form required by the Maritime Administrator, and which is:

(1) Owned by a United States corporation, or a foreign corporation in which a majority of the stock is owned and controlled by a citizen or citizens of the United States, whether direct or through intervening corporations, foreign or domestic. Where such intervening corporations are foreign, the ultimate majority ownership and control of the stock of such corporations must be vested in a citizen or citizens of the United States as defined 46 U.S.C. 50501(a);

(2) Owned by a foreign corporation which is not directly or beneficially owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States, but which vessel is under a long-term charter or other long-term contract covering the use of the vessel on terms deemed by the Maritime Administrator to subject the vessel to United States control in the event of an emergency. The charterer of such vessel must be either a citizen or citizens of the United States or a foreign corporation in which a majority of the stock is owned and controlled by a citizen or citizens of the United States, whether direct or indirect through intervening corporations, foreign or domestic. Where such intervening corporations are foreign, ultimate majority ownership and control of the stock of such corporations must be vested in a citizen or citizens of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501(a).

(c) Any other vessel, at the sole discretion of the Maritime Administrator, but only while engaged in a service which has been determined by the Maritime Administrator to be in the interest of the national defense or the national economy of the United States. Vessels in this category are not eligible for war risk insurance interim binders.

(a) Restrictions—foreign-flag vessels. Interim insurance is available on any vessel described in § 308.1(a) and (b), provided application for interim insurance is submitted as required in subparts B, C, or D of this part 308, and the Maritime Administrator approves said application: Provided, that only vessels of Panamanian, Honduran, Bahamian, Republic of the Marshall Islands or Liberian registry not more than 20 years old will be considered eligible under § 308.1 (b) for interim insurance, subject at all times to the determination specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Special rules—foreign-flag vessels. For the purpose of providing interim insurance on vessels described in § 308.1(b), the Maritime Administrator shall consider the characteristics, employment, and general management of the vessel. The Maritime Administrator formally determines that the following vessels are engaged in a service in the interest of the national defense or the national economy of the United States and qualify for an interim binder:

(1) Vessels substantially engaged in the foreign commerce of the United States or which would be required in the event of war or national emergency;

(2) Tankers of not less than 2,000 deadweight tons;

(3) Dry cargo vessels, including containerships, break-bulk, and dry bulk vessels;

(4) Heavy lift vessels;

(5) Refrigerated vessels and other classes of ships in short supply in the United States-flag fleet;

(6) Passenger vessels; and

(7) Other vessels with special capabilities, as determined by the Maritime Administrator.

(c) Vessel Position Reports. All vessels for which war risk insurance interim binders have been issued shall file a Vessel Position Report. The purpose of this report is to inform U.S. agencies of vessel arrivals, departures, and at-sea locations. Failure to make required regular reports will cause MARAD to issue a one-time notice of default. If failure to report continues, MARAD shall cancel the interim binder for the subject vessel and any insurance attaching thereunder. MARAD will issue reporting instructions and formats with the binders.

(d) Notice of change in status of vessel after binder issued. Any breach of the warranty prescribed hereunder as to vessels in all categories with respect to Department of Commerce Transportation Order T-1 (44 CFR Parts 401 and 402), as well as the additional warranties as to vessels in categories (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, with respect to maintenance of eligibility for insurance and availability of the insured vessels to the U.S. Government in time of emergency, shall terminate the binders and any insurance attaching thereunder. In the event of the sale, demise charter, requisition, confiscation, change of flag, total loss, or any other change in status which, by the terms of the binder causes the binder to terminate, prompt notice shall be given in writing to MARAD's underwriting agent and to MARAD at: Division of Marine Insurance, Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., MAR-712, Washington, DC 20950.

(e) Nature of change in status of other vessels. It is the intention of the parties that any breach of the warranty as to operation in the approved service of vessels described in § 308.1(c) shall terminate the insurance. In the event of the sale, demise charter, requisition, confiscation, change of flag, total loss, any other change in status or change in operation of the vessel in the approved service prompt notice shall be given to MARAD's underwriting agent MARAD's underwriting agent and to MARAD at the address in paragraph (d) of this section.

(a) Application, binder forms. A single application for War Risk Insurance shall be filed on Form MA-528, specifying the types of insurance coverages for which the applicant is applying. A single application may be submitted for several vessels, if the application identifies each vessel to be insured and the coverage(s) required, by completing appendices A and B to that form. An interim binder for war risk insurance coverage, of the types described in subparts B, C and D of this part, shall be on Form MA-942, which may be obtained from the MARAD's underwriting agent or from MARAD.

(b) Warranties—(1) In general. Applications for war risk hull and protection and indemnity insurance in any eligible category of this part 308 shall include a warranty that, at all times during the effective period of the binder and any insurance attaching thereunder, the insured vessel, regardless of its nation of registry, will comply with Department of Commerce Transportation Order T-1 (44 CFR parts 401 and 402), or any modifications thereof so long as it remains in force and that the vessel will not be chartered, unless in accordance with the provisions of §§ 221.11 and 221.13 of this chapter, which requirement is applicable to any charter in existence at the time the applicant applies for insurance.

(2) Vessels described in § 308.1(a). Applications for war risk insurance on a vessel described in § 308.1(a) shall contain the warranty that at, and from the date of issuance of the interim binder, and for and during the term of any insurance attaching thereunder, such vessel will remain eligible within its category.

(3) Vessels described in § 308.1(b). Applications for war risk insurance on a vessel described in § 308.1(b) shall contain the warranties that at all times the vessel will remain eligible within its applicable category; that the vessel will be made available for use by the United States pursuant to the signed Contract of Commitment submitted with the insurance applications, as required by MARAD; that the vessel will remain in the approved service; and that no controlling interest in the vessel shall be transferred by a subsequent sale or long-term charter, except on the condition that the successor in interest agrees to be bound by the terms of the applicant's Contract of Commitment. All instruments transferring any controlling interest in the vessel, including long-term charter or merger agreements, shall be submitted to MARAD for prior approval.

(4) Vessels described in § 308.1(c). Applications for war risk insurance on a vessel described in § 308.1(c) shall contain warranties that the vessel will remain in the approved service and that any change in flag or service will be reported in advance to MARAD for a new determination as to whether the vessel's service is in the interest of the national defense or the national economy of the United States. Vessels in this category are not eligible for war risk insurance interim binders.

(5) Vessel locator filing requirements. Applications for insurance on vessels in all categories, except tugs and barges and vessels used exclusively in the fishing trade or industry, described in § 308.1(a), shall contain a warranty that at all times the vessel will file reports as required under the U.S. Coast Guard's Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) as prescribed in § 308.2(c) of this section.

(c) Filing applications for insurance. All applications for insurance on a vessel shall be made to MARAD's underwriting agent and to MARAD at the address in § 308.2(d).

(d) Required submissions with—(1) In general. An application for insurance on a vessel described in § 308.1(b) shall be accompanied by:

(i) A contract of commitment, in the form prescribed in § 308.5. In the event the vessel is determined to be ineligible under the terms of this part 308, the applicant will be so advised and the executed contract of commitment and any official foreign government action or approval will be returned to the applicant by MARAD.

(ii) An executed agreement contained in the application for insurance that any charter or other contract covering the use of the vessel during the period of the binder or any insurance attaching thereunder shall be subject to termination or suspension without notice in the event the United States requires the use of the vessel under the voluntary contract of commitment submitted by the applicant.

(2) Certification of citizenship. An application for insurance on such a vessel shall be supported by execution of the citizenship certification, in the format set out in appendix C to Form MA-528, as described in paragraph (a) of this section. That certification shall be required to establish the U.S. citizenship of the majority ownership and control of the vessel-owning corporation, whether that ownership is direct or through intervening corporations.

(3) Existing long-term charters. An application for a vessel in this category which is at the time of application under long-term charter or other long-term contract, either to the applicant or from the applicant to a third party, shall be jointly submitted by the owner and the charterer, and in addition to the other materials required under this paragraph, shall be accompanied by a copy of the long-term contract covering the use of the vessel and all addenda thereto, certified to be full and complete copies (except as to rate of hire or freight) and a completed appendix C to Form MA-528, establishing the U.S. citizenship of the majority of the shareholders and control of the charterer. The charterer shall also furnish to MARAD a certified copy of any amendment to such charter which may be issued subsequent to the issuance of any binder of insurance under this part 308.

(4) Foreign government action or approval. An application for a vessel in this category also shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the evidence of any official action or approval required by the government of the country of registry as a prerequisite to the execution of a contract of commitment with the United States.

(5) Additional materials. With respect to a vessel in this category, the applicant shall submit the following additional materials:

(i) A statement describing the service in which the vessel is engaged, including a listing of the vessel's voyages and ports of call during the immediately preceding six (6) month period, indicating the tonnage and type of cargo carried on such voyages and the reasons why such service should be deemed to be in the interest of the national defense or the national economy of the United States;

(ii) Material demonstrating the management and financial capabilities of the applicant; and

(iii) In the case of a new vessel or a vessel which has not for the six (6) months immediately prior to the date of the application been engaged in the foreign commerce of the United States, a statement, signed by a responsible company official, certifying the extent to which the vessel will be engaged in the foreign commerce of the United States for the six (6) months immediately following the issuance of any interim binder of insurance under this part 308.

(e) Requests for changes in binders. All requests for changes in binders and inquiries relative to the insurance after the interim binders have been issued shall be directed to MARAD's underwriting agent or MARAD at the address in § 308.2(d).

(f) Fees. A check payable in U.S. funds to the “Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation” for the total amount of all binder fees payable by such applicant shall accompany each application. Binder fees are not returnable.

(g) Availability of Application Forms. Form MA-528 may be obtained from either MARAD's underwriting agent or MARAD at the address in § 308.2 (d).

Applications for insurance on vessels described in § 308.1(b) shall be accompanied by a contract of commitment, in triplicate originals, executed by the owner (or by the owner and the charterer where required by § 308.3). Contracts of commitment to make the vessel available to the United States during any period in which vessels may be requisitioned under 46 U.S.C. Chapter 563 shall be submitted on standard contract form which may be obtained from MARAD's underwriting agent or MARAD. The effective date of the contract of commitment will be the effective date of the binder and will be inserted in the contract of commitment by MARAD.

(a) All existing interim binders remain in full force and effect without the necessity of re-application or the payment of additional fees so long as the Secretary of Transportation's authority to provide such insurance has been extended and is continuous.

(b) Assureds under interim binders are required to notify MARAD's underwriting agent annually, by June 30th, of any change in the information provided in their original binder applications including, but not limited to, change of address, vessel name or vessel characteristics.

(c) New applications for interim binders on American vessels, with necessary attachments (as specified in § 308.3), as well as checks for the binder fees prescribed made payable to “Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation,” shall be filed with the MARAD's underwriting agent. All interim binders on American vessels shall become effective as of the date of determination of eligibility by MARAD.

(d) New applications for interim binders on U.S. citizen-owned or controlled foreign-flag vessels, with necessary attachments (as specified in § 308.3), as well as checks for the binder fees prescribed made payable to “Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation,” shall be filed for review in accordance with eligibility requirements specified in § 308.2, and mailed to MARAD's underwriting agent. All interim binders on foreign-flag vessels will become effective on the date the owner's contract of commitment is executed by MARAD.

Rate to be fixed promptly upon the happening of the event causing the American Institute Hull War Risks and Strikes Clauses dated December 1, 1977 (including Automatic Termination and Cancellation Provisions) for attachment to American Institute Hull Clauses dated June 2, 1977 of any war risk policies to become operative and premium shall be payable within ten (10) days after receipt of notice of the amount thereof by the assured. Premiums shall be paid to the Underwriting Agent that issued the binders by check payable to the order of “Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.” In the event that it is subsequently determined that insurance under interim binders did not attach, premiums paid will be refunded by the Maritime Administrator.

Standard form MA-355, Underwriting Agency Agreement, shall be executed by the Maritime Administrator and domestic insurance companies or groups of domestic insurance companies authorized to do a marine insurance business in any States of the United States, appointing such companies or groups of companies as Underwriting Agents to issue binders and policies covering hull, protection and indemnity, and Second Seamen's war risk insurance under subparts B, C, and D of this part. It shall contain provisions including, but not limited to the appointment of the agent, duties of the agent, books and records, compensation, standard of performance, indemnification effective date, amendment and termination, and nondiscrimination.