SEO. 8. The Secretary of the Navy, with the approval of the President, is hereby authorized to undertake the construction of not to exceed eight hundred small vessels suitable for use as patrol vessels, mine vessels and the like, as he may consider best suited for the successful prosecution of the war, such vessels to be in addition to those heretofore authorized. SEC. 4. The Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to acquire and convert not to exceed two hundred small vessels for coastal defense, patrol, mine sweeping, and similar purposes as he may consider necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, such vessels to be in addition to those heretofore authorized. SEO. 5. (a) Section 5 (a) of the Act approved July 19, 1940 (54 Stat. 780), is hereby amended by striking out the words "at a total cost not to exceed $50,000,000", and inserting in lieu thereof the words "to a total number not to exceed seventy-two". (b) Section 2 of the Act approved January 31, 1941 (55 Stat. 5), is hereby amended by striking out the words "to a total amount not exceeding $400,000,000". SEC. 6. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act. Approved, July 9, 1942. [CHAPTER 544-2D SESSION] [H. R. 7100] AN ACT To amend the Act entitled "An Act authorizing vessels of Canadian registry to transport iron ore on the Great Lakes during 1942", approved January 27, 1942 (Public Law 416, Seventy-seventh Congress), to continue it in force during the existing war. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Act entitled "An Act authorizing vessels of Canadian registry to transport iron ore on the Great Lakes during 1942", approved January 27, 1942 (Public Law 416, Seventy-seventh Congress), is amended to read as follows: "That, by reason of emergency conditions in transportation on the Great Lakes, notwithstanding the provisions of section 27 of the Act of Congress approved June 5, 1920 (41 Stat. 999), as amended by Act of Congress approved April 11, 1935 (49 Stat. 154), and by Act of Congress approved July 2, 1935 (49 Stat. 442), or the provisions of any other Act of Congress or regulation, vessels of "Canadian registry shall be permitted to transport iron ore between United States ports on the Great Lakes during the continuance of the present war and for six months after the termination of the war, or until such earlier time as the Congress by concurrent resolution or the President by proclamation may designate." Approved, August 1, 1942. [CHAPTER 550—2D SESSION] (H. J. Res. 246] JOINT RESOLUTION To authorize the War Shipping Administration to sell or charter two merchant vessels to the Government of Ireland. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the War Shipping Administration is authorized, with the approval of the President, to sell or charter the merchant vessels West Neris and West Hematite to the Government of Ireland, upon such terms and conditions as the War Shipping Administration may deem necessary or desirable for the protection of the public interest. Approved, August 6, 1942. [CHAPTER 1-1ST SESSION] [H. R. 1446] AN ACT Authorizing appropriations for the United States Navy for additional ship repair facilities, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $210,000,000 for essential equipment and facilities at either private or public plants for repairing, altering, or converting any vessel operated by the Navy or being prepared for naval use. SEC. 2. The authority herein granted shall include the authority to acquire lands at such locations as the Secretary of the Navy may deem best suited to the purpose of the authority herein contained, erect or extend buildings, acquire the necessary machinery and equipment, and shall be in addition to all authority heretofore granted for these purposes. SEO. 8. The Secretary of the Navy from time to time, but not less frequently than every sixty days, shall transmit to the Congress a full report of all acquisitions of land, by lease or otherwise, effected under the authority of this Act. SEO. 4. Hereafter any ship, boat, barge, or floating drydock of the Navy may be leased in accordance with the Act approved March 11, 1941 (55 Stat. 81), but not otherwise disposed of, for periods not beyond the termination of the present wars, but title thereto shall remain in the United States. Approved February 19, 1943. [CHAPTER 26-1ST SESSION] [H. R. 133] AN ACT To amend and clarify certain provisions of law relating to functions of the War Shipping Administration, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) officers and members of crews (hereinafter referred to as "seamen") employed on United States or foreign flag vessels as employees of the United States through the War Shipping Administration shall, with respect to (1) laws administered by the Public Health Service and the Social Security Act, as amended by subsection (b) (2) and (3) of this section; (2) death, injuries, illness, maintenance and cure, loss of effects, detention, or repatriation, or claims arising therefrom not covered by the foregoing clause (1); and (3) collection of wages and bonuses and making of allotments, have all of the rights, benefits, exemptions, privileges, and liabilities, under law applicable to citizens of the United States employed as seamen on privately owned and operated American vessels. Such seamen, because of the temporary wartime character of their employment by the War Shipping Administration, shall not be considered as officers or employees of the United States for the purposes of the United States Employees Compensation Act, as amended; the Civil Service Retirement Act, as amended; the Act of Congress approved March 7, 1942 (Public Law 490, Seventyseventh Congress); or the Act entitled "An Act to provide benefits for the injury, disability, death, or detention of employees of contractors with the United States and certain other persons or reimbursement therefor", approved December 2, 1942 (Public Law 784, Seventyseventh Congress). Claims arising under clause (1) hereof shall be enforced in the same manner as such claims would be enforced if the seaman were employed on a privately owned and operated American vessel. Any claim referred to in clause (2) or (3) hereof shall, if administratively disallowed in whole or in part, be enforced pursuant to the provisions of the Suits in Admiralty Act, notwithstanding the vessel on which the seaman is employed is not a merchant vessel within the meaning of such Act. Any claim, right, or cause of action of or in respect of any such seaman accruing on or after October 1, 1941, and prior to the date of enactment of this section may be enforced, and upon the election of the seaman or his surviving dependent or beneficiary, or his legal representative to do so shall be governed, as if this section had been in effect when such claim, right, or cause of action accrued, such election to be made in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Administrator, War Shipping Administration. Rights of any seaman under the Social Security Act, as amended by subsection (b) (2) and (3), and claims therefor shall be governed solely by the provisions of such Act, so amended. When used in this subsection the term "administratively disallowed" means |