(a) Control of passage in and protracted visits to aircraft and ships of the Navy by all persons, within or without the Department of the Navy, shall be exercised by the Chief of Naval Operations.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting the senior officer present from authorizing the passage in ships and aircraft of the Navy by such persons as he or she judges necessary in the public interest or in the interest of humanity. The senior officer present shall report the circumstances to the Chief of Naval Operations when he or she gives such authorization.