Title 46

SECTION 298.18

298.18 Financing Shipyard Projects.

§ 298.18 Financing Shipyard Projects.

(a) Initial criteria. We may issue Guarantees to finance a Shipyard Project at a General Shipyard Facility. We may approve such Guarantees after we consider whether the Guarantees will result in shipyard modernization and support increased productivity.

(b) Detailed statement. You must provide a detailed statement, with the Guarantee application, which will provide the basis for our consideration.

(c) Required conditions. We shall approve your application for loan guarantees under this section if we determine the following:

(1) The term for such Guarantees will not exceed the reasonable economic useful life of the collective assets which comprise this Shipyard Project;

(2) There is sufficient collateral to secure the Guarantee; and

(3) Your application will not prevent us from guaranteeing debt for a Shipyard Project that, in our sole opinion, will serve a more desirable use of appropriated funds. In making this determination, we will consider:

(i) The types of vessels which will be built by the shipyard,

(ii) The productivity increases which will be achieved,

(iii) The geographic location of the shipyard,

(iv) The long-term viability of the shipyard,

(v) The soundness of the financial transaction,

(vi) Any financial impact on other Title XI transactions, and

(vii) The furtherance of the goals of the Shipbuilding Act.