United States Merchant Marine Utilization and Preference Act of 1992

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] United States Merchant Marine Utilization and Preference Act of 1992 - Requires Department of Defense (DOD) cargoes to be transported by water in the following order of priority under conditions other than full or partial mobilization declared by the President: (1) use of privately owned U.S. flag vessels that operate in U.S. liner or tramp trades and not chartered by the Government; and (2) time or voyage charter of suitable privately owned U.S. flag vessels operating in liner service providing partial or total space available or in tramp service if they are voluntarily made available to DOD; (3) vessels in the nucleus fleet; and (4) foreign flag vessels. Limits the use of time and voyage charters to a minimum necessary to meet requirements which, barring reasonable foresight, can not be met by U.S. flag liner or tramp operators. Requires the written approval of the Secretary of Transportation for use of vessels in the nucleus fleet or foreign-flag vessels (limited to a single voyage as necessary to meet urgent military requirements). Applies the tariff filed by a person with the Federal Maritime Commission under the Shipping Act of 1916 or of 1984 to transportation of DOD cargo o…