The Secretary of Transportation without regard to the provisions of section
5 of title
41 may repair, reconstruct, or recondition any vessels to be utilized under sections
196 to
198 of this title. The Secretary of Transportation and any other Government department or agency by which any vessel is acquired or chartered, or to which any vessel is transferred or made available under sections
196 to
198 of this title may, with the aid of any funds available and without regard to the provisions of said section
5 of title
41, repair, reconstruct, or recondition any such vessels to meet the needs of the services intended, or provide facilities for such repair, reconstruction, or reconditioning. The Secretary of Transportation may operate or charter for operation any vessel to be utilized under sections
196 to
198 of this title to private operators, citizens of the United States, or to any department or agency of the United States Government, without regard to the provisions of chapter
575 of title
46, and any department or agency of the United States Government is authorized to enter into such charters.