The Commission and the Secretary of Transportation may appoint and prescribe the duties and fix the salaries of a secretary, a director for each of not to exceed five divisions, a general counsel, a clerk to each member of the Commission and not more than three assistants, a clerk to the general counsel, not more than a total of twenty naval architects or marine engineers, twenty special experts, twenty-two examiners, twelve attorneys, and two inspectors for each vessel at each shipyard at which vessels are being constructed by it or under its supervision. The Commission and the Secretary of Transportation may, subject to the provisions of the civil-service laws and chapter
51 and subchapter
III of chapter
53 of title
5, appoint such other officers, engineers, inspectors, attorneys, examiners, and other employees as are necessary in the execution of their functions.