((a)) ** .—** The Secretary of Transportation may provide for the training of cadets at the United States Merchant Marine Academy—

((1)) on vessels owned, subsidized by, or contracted with the United States Government;

((2)) on other documented vessels, with the permission of the owner;

((3)) in shipyards or plants and with industrial or educational organizations; and

((4)) on any other vessel considered by the Secretary to be necessary or appropriate or in the national interest.

((b))

((1)) ** .—** The Secretary shall require an operator of a vessel participating in the Maritime Security Program under chapter 531 of this title, the Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of this title, or the Tanker Security Fleet under chapter 534 of this title to—

((A)) carry on each Maritime Security Program vessel, Cable Security Fleet vessel, or Tanker Security Fleet vessel 2 United States Merchant Marine Academy cadets, if available, on each voyage; and

((B)) implement and adhere to policies, programs, criteria, and requirements established pursuant to .

((2)) ** .—** Failure to implement or adhere to the policies, programs, criteria, and requirements referred to in paragraph (1) may, as determined by the Maritime Administrator, constitute a violation of an operating agreement entered into under chapter 531, 532, or 534 of this title and the Maritime Administrator may—

((A)) require the operator to take corrective actions; or

((B)) withhold payment due to the operator until the violation, as determined by the Maritime Administrator, has been remedied.

((3)) ** .—** Any payment withheld pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) may be paid, upon a determination by the Maritime Administrator that the operator is in compliance with the policies, programs, criteria, and requirements referred to in paragraph (1).

((c))

((1)) ** .—** Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commander of the Military Sealift Command shall require an operator of a vessel in the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command to carry on each such vessel 2 United States Merchant Marine Academy cadets, if available, on each voyage, if the vessel—

((A)) is flagged in the United States; and

((B)) is rated at 10,000 gross tons or higher.

((2)) ** .—** The Commander of the Military Sealift Command may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) at any time if the Commander determines that carrying a cadet from the United States Merchant Marine Academy would place an undue burden on the vessel or the operator of the vessel.

((d)) ** .—** In this section, the term “operator” includes a government operator and a non-government operator.

((e)) ** .—** Nothing in this section may be construed as affecting—

((1)) the discretion of the Secretary to determine whether to place a United States Merchant Marine Academy cadet on a vessel;

((2)) the authority of the Coast Guard regarding a vessel security plan approved under section 70103; or

((3)) the discretion of the master of the vessel to ensure the safety of all crew members.