Maritime Navigation Technology and Research Act of 1993

Summary: Maritime Navigation Technology and Research Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations which require vessels operating in a U.S. harbor to use state-of-the-art navigation, communication, and collision avoidance equipment that is compatible with Coast Guard vessel traffic systems. 
Requires the Secretary to conduct research and development of vessel navigation technologies. 
Establishes the Maritime Navigation Research Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary on maritime research programs.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Maritime Navigation Technology and 
Research Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States should have as a goal the 
        establishment of a vessel traffic control system that is as 
        effective as the United States air traffic control system.
            (2) The technology exists to display, in real time 
        electronic charts on board a vessel, the position of any vessel 
        in the immediate area, based on global positioning system 
        satellites.
            (3) The global positioning system has an accuracy of less 
        than 100 meters and 3 to 10 meters in a differential mode which 
        could be used to significantly improve the accuracy and 
        reliability of vessel navigation in both harbors and in open 
        water.
            (4) Laser navigation technology could be used to enhance 
        harbor safety by improving the accuracy of early warnings to 
        vessels of the clearances needed when approaching various fixed 
        structures.
            (5) Existing vessel traffic control systems are often 
        little more than informational services.
            (6) Improved vessel traffic control and collision avoidance 
        systems are needed in United States harbors to improve the 
        safety of vessel traffic and protect the marine environment.
            (7) Technology for real time tidal and current 
        measurements, if combined with vessel traffic control systems, 
        could improve navigation safety.

SEC. 3. RULES REQUIRING STATE-OF-THE-ART VESSEL TRAFFIC CONTROL 
              EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Issuance of Rules.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
rules which require vessels which operate in harbors in the United 
States to have operational state-of-the-art navigation, communication, 
and collision avoidance equipment that is compatible with Coast Guard 
vessel traffic systems.
    (b) Requirements for Certain Vessels.--Rules issued under this 
section shall require the use, by any vessel of a class to be 
determined by the Secretary and specified in the rules, of vessel 
traffic control and collision avoidance equipment that meets 
performance standards established in the rules for--
            (1) determining vessel position with an accuracy that is at 
        least 5 to 10 meters;
            (2) an onboard visual display, to be updated in real time, 
        showing the location, speed, track, and projected course of 
        both the parent vessel and other vessels within a radius of 40 
        kilometers; and
            (3) an onboard collision avoidance alarm system capable 
        of--
                    (A) computing the potential for collision and 
                alerting the pilot of impending collision; and
                    (B) displaying the best alternatives for evasive 
                action.
    (c) Requirements for Other Vessels.--Rules issued under this 
section shall require the use, by a vessel that is not included in the 
class specified pursuant to subsection (b), of a transponder capable of 
transmitting data regarding--
            (1) the position, speed, and direction of the vessel; and
            (2) other pertinent information.
    (d) Upgrade of Coast Guard Systems.--The Secretary of 
Transportation shall upgrade all vessel traffic control systems as 
necessary to make them compatible with technologies required under 
rules issued under this section.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Requirement.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        conduct or provide for the conduct of research and development 
        of technologies for vessel navigation.
            (2) Required research.--Research under this subsection 
        shall include--
                    (A) programs in the maritime applications of the 
                advanced global positioning satellite systems and 
                equivalent or better technology, electronic charting 
                and information display, computerized vessel tracking, 
                vessel transponders, collision avoidance, and 
                computerized alarm systems; and
                    (B) a program to better understand the relationship 
                between human factors and vessel accidents and between 
                human factors and maritime safety, to develop a human 
                factors analysis of the hazards associated with new 
                technologies to be used in maritime traffic control.
    (b) Research Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
        shall submit to the Congress and begin implementing a national 
        research plan for research in vessel navigation technology.
            (2) Contents.--The national research plan shall describe 
        research and development which will be carried out by the 
        Secretary over a 5-year period to ensure continued advancement 
        in navigation technology that will provide the highest degree 
        of safety.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment and Functions.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish and appoint the members of an advisory committee which 
shall be known as the ``Maritime Navigation Research Advisory 
Committee''. The advisory committee shall--
            (1) provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary 
        regarding needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and 
        accomplishments with respect to the research plan under section 
        4(b) and the maritime research program carried out by the 
        Department of Transportation; and
            (2) assist the Secretary in assuring that research under 
        that program is coordinated with similar research being 
        conducted by persons outside of the Department of 
        Transportation.
    (b) Membership.--The advisory committee--
            (1) shall consist of not more than 20 members appointed by 
        the Secretary from among individuals who are not employees of 
        the Department of Transportation and who are specially 
        qualified to serve on the advisory committee by reason of their 
        education, training, or experience; and
            (2) shall include representatives of schools, universities, 
        public port authorities, corporations, associations, labor 
        unions, consumers, and other Federal, State, and local 
        government agencies.