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eral Register. Judgment in any such action shall discharge the United States from further liability to any parties to such action, and to all persons where service by publication upon persons unknown is directed by the court. The procedure herein provided shall apply to all actions now pending against the United States under the provisions of this subtitle, as amended."

(h) Section 226 (f) of Subtitle-Insurance of Title II of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (Public Law 523, Seventy-seventh Congress), is amended by adding at the end thereof a new paragraph to read as follows:

"(3) The term 'risks of war' shall include those losses which, in accordance with commercial practice prevailing from time to time, are excluded from marine insurance coverage under 'free of capture and seizure' clauses or clauses analogous thereto."

(i) Subtitle-Insurance of Title II of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (Public Law 523, Seventy-seventh Congress), is amended by adding at the end thereof a section to read as follows: "SEC. 229. In addition to the insurance functions authorized by the other sections of this subtitle, the War Shipping Administration may insure directly, or may reinsure in whole or in part any company authorized to do business in any State in the United States and which shall insure directly, any person who shall perform services or provide facilities for or with respect to any American or foreign flag vessel, public or private, or any naval vessel of a foreign government against legal liabilities (except liability to employees in respect of employer's liability and workmen's compensation) that may be incurred by such person in connection with the performance of such services or the providing of such facilities, whenever in the opinion of the Administrator, War Shipping Administration, such insurance or reinsurance is required in the prosecution of the war effort and cannot be obtained at reasonable rates or upon reasonable conditions from approved companies authorized to do an insurance business in any State of the United States."

(j) The clause in parentheses in the first sentence of section 3 (b) of the Act of June 6, 1941, as amended (Public Law 101, Seventyseventh Congress), is amended to read as follows: "(including any interest or liability of the owner, charterer, or agent)".

(k) The second sentence of section 4 of such Act of June 6, 1941, is amended by inserting after the words "national defense" and before the semicolon a comma and the following: "and when so chartered or operated may be insured as provided in said section 3".

SEC. 4. The United States shall, with respect to vessels owned by or chartered to the War Shipping Administrator under bareboat charter or time charter or operated directly by such Administrator or for his account, be entitled to the benefits of all exemptions and of all limitations of liability accorded by law to the owners of vessels. With respect to any such vessel, the term "the United States" shall include agents or other persons acting for or on behalf of the Administrator in connection with the operation thereof.

SEC. 5. The provisions of section 1 (a) of this Act shall remain in force until the termination of title 1 of the First War Powers Act, 1941. The termination of the provisions of such section shall not affect any act done or any right accruing or accrued, or any suit

or proceeding had or commenced in any cause before such termination, but all rights and liabilities under law as modified by such provisions shall continue, and may be enforced in the same manner as if such provisions had not terminated. The authority conferred upon the United States Maritime Commission by any provision of this Act shall be vested in and exercised by the Administrator of the War Shipping Administration in conformity with the Executive order of February 7, 1942 (Numbered 9054; 7 F. R. 837), as heretofore or hereafter amended.

Approved March 24, 1943.

[CHAPTER 71-1ST SESSION]

[H. J. Res. 92]

JOINT RESOLUTION

To authorize the refund by the War Shipping Administrator of certain freights for transportation on frustrated voyages.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Administrator, War Shipping Administration, is authorized to refund to shippers or their authorized representatives sums collected by or for account of the United States as freight for transportation which was not completed by reason of frustration of the voyage on or about December 1, 1941, and before February 16, 1942: Provided, That when the United States has incurred any expense in connection with such frustrated voyages the refund shall be prorated upon such basis as the Administrator shall deem appropriate.

Approved April 26, 1943.

[CHAPTER 81—1ST SESSION]

[H. R. 2238]

AN ACT

To authorize the return to private ownership of certain vessels formerly used or suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any vessel formerly used or suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto the title to which has been or may hereafter be acquired by the United States through purchase or requisition may be returned to private ownership in accordance with the provisions of this Act. SEO. 2. Every such vessel shall, upon determination by the department or agency having possession thereof that the vessel is no longer needed or can be spared by such department or agency without detriment to its service, be made available to the Administrator of the War Shipping Administration (hereinafter referred to as the Administrator), who shall notify the owner from whom such vessel was purchased or requisitioned that the vessel may be returned to such owner upon repayment to the United States of the compensation paid therefor less such allowances as the Administrator may deem reasonable (1) to cover the cost of such reconditioning as the Administrator and the owner may find necessary to make the vessel suitable for use in the fisheries or industries related thereto (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and (2) to compensate such owner for the use of the vessel by the United States, and upon compliance with such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may prescribe. The determination of such allowances by the Administrator shall be final notwithstanding any other provision of law.

SEO. 8. If any such owner shall fail, within a reasonable time after notice (which time shall be specified in the notice but may be extended by the Administrator), to make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator for such return of the vessel or shall expressly waive the right thereto, the Administrator may advertise the vessel for sale upon competitive sealed bids subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator may prescribe, including a requirement of assurance that the vessel will not be used, for the period of one year from the date of sale, other than in the fisheries or industries related thereto, without the approval of the Administrator: Provided, however, That the Administrator may reject any bid which does not equal the purchase price or compensation paid or payable by the United States for such vessel less a reasonable allowance to cover the cost of reconditioning as hereinabove defined.

SEO. 4. The Administrator may withhold from the funds received for the return or sale of any such vessel the expenses incurred by him in such return or sale, and shall pay over the balance of such receipts to the department or agency by which such vessel was made available. Approved April 29, 1943.

[CHAPTER 96-1ST SESSION]
[H. R. 2281]

AN ACT

To provide for the issuance of devices in recognition of the services of
merchant sailors.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Adminis trator, War Shipping Administration, is hereby authorized to provide and issue (a) a seamen's service insignia of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the period (hereinafter referred to as the war period) beginning December 7, 1941, and ending with the termination of the present war, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine, and (b) a seamen's war zone insignia or device of appropriate design to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine while sailing in any war or combat zone.

SEC. 2. The Administrator is authorized to provide and issue a seamen's honor bar to any person who, at any time during the war period, serves on any vessel in the American merchant marine which, at the time of such service, is attacked or damaged by an instrumentality of war. The Administrator is further authorized to provide and issue a star (to be attached to such bar) to any such person who is forced to abandon such vessel when so attacked or damaged, with an additional star for each such abandonment.

SEC. 3. The Administrator is authorized to provide and award a medal of appropriate design and a ribbon, together with a rosette or other device to be worn in lieu thereof, to any person who, while serving on any vessel in the American merchant marine during the war period, is wounded, suffers physical injury, or suffers through dangerous exposure as a result of an act of an enemy of the United States.

SEC. 4. The Administrator shall prescribe appropriate conditions of eligibility for the issuance or award of insignia or medals under this Act. Not more than one insignia or medal of each type provided herein shall be issued or awarded to any one person, but for each succeeding service of any person sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 8 of this Act, the Administrator may award a suitable bar, emblem, or insignia to be worn with the medal. In case any person who performs service sufficient to justify the award of a medal under section 3 dies before the award can be made to him, the a ward may be made and the medal presented to such representative of the deceased as the Administrator deems proper. No award of any insignia, medal, or device shall be made hereunder after two years after the termination of the present war.

SEC. 5. The Administrator is authorized to approve a design for a seamen's service flag which may be displayed, and a design for a service lapel button which may be worn, by members of the immediate family

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