(a) Under section 2, Shipping Act, 1916, as amended and section 905(c), Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, no corporation is deemed to be a citizen of the United States unless:

Terms Used In 46 CFR 355.1

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • primary corporation: includes , but not exclusively, an applicant, for, or one already receiving, benefits under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, as well as participants in certain transactions, such as banking institutions designated as lenders, mortgagees, and trustees pursuant to Public Law 89-346 (73 Stat. See 46 CFR 355.1
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.

(1) It is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State, Territory, District, or possession thereof;

(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, and the chairman of its board of directors are citizens of the United States, and no more of its directors than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum are non-citizens (except that in the case of corporations under title VI, Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, all directors must be citizens of the United States) and

(3) The controlling interest therein is owned by citizens of the United States or, in the case of a corporation operating any vessel in the coastwise trade, on the Great Lakes, or inland lakes of the United States, 75 per centum of the interest in such corporation is owned by citizens of the United States.

(b) As used in this part, the term “primary corporation” includes, but not exclusively, an applicant, for, or one already receiving, benefits under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended, as well as participants in certain transactions, such as banking institutions designated as lenders, mortgagees, and trustees pursuant to Public Law 89-346 (73 Stat. 597), as amended.

(c) To satisfy the statutory requirements, an Affidavit of U.S. Citizenship of a primary corporation by one of its officers duly authorized to execute such Affidavit, should be submitted. This affidavit should contain facts from which the corporation’s citizenship can be determined. MARAD will accept electronic options (such as facsimile and Internet) for transmission of required information to MARAD, if practicable.

[G.O. 89, Rev., 35 FR 11558, July 18, 1970, as amended at 68 FR 62538, Nov. 5, 2003; 69 FR 34311, June 21, 2004; 69 FR 61451, Oct. 19, 2004]