I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7256 

To implement recommendations related to the safety of amphibious passenger 

vessels, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 11, 2018 

Mr. CARSON of Indiana introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To implement recommendations related to the safety of 

amphibious passenger vessels, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR AMPHIBIOUS PASSENGER 

4 VESSELS TO REMAIN AFLOAT AND UPRIGHT 

5 IN THE EVENT OF FLOODING. 

6 (a) RESERVE BUOYANCY FOR AMPHIBIOUS PAS7 SENGER VESSELS THROUGH PASSIVE MEANS.— 

8 (1) REGULATIONS REQUIRED.—Not later than 

9 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

10 the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall prescribe 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7256 IH

1 in regulations requirements that operators of am2 phibious passenger vessels provide reserve buoyancy 

3 for such vessels through passive means, including 

4 watertight compartmentalization, built-in flotation, 

5 or such other means as the Commandant shall speci6 fy in the regulations, in order to ensure that such 

7 vessels remain afloat and upright in the event of 

8 flooding, including when carrying a full complement 

9 of passengers and crew. 

10 (2) DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE.—The regula11 tions required by paragraph (1) shall require compli12 ance with the requirements in the regulations by op13 erators of amphibious passenger vessels by such 

14 date, not later than 24 months after the date of the 

15 enactment of this Act, as the Commandant shall 

16 specify in the regulations. 

17 (b) INTERIM REQUIREMENTS.—Commencing as of 

18 the date the regulations required by subsection (a) are 

19 prescribed, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall re20 quire that operators of amphibious passenger vessels that 

21 are not in compliance with the requirements in the regula22 tions do the following: 

23 (1) Remove the canopies of such vessels for wa24 terborne operations, or install in such vehicles a 

25 Coast Guard-approved canopy that does not restrict 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7256 IH

1 either horizontal or vertical escape by passengers in 

2 the event of flooding or sinking. 

3 (2) If the canopy is removed from any such ves4 sel pursuant to paragraph (1), require that all pas5 sengers don a Coast Guard type-approved personal 

6 flotation device before the onset of waterborne oper7 ations of such vessel. 

8 (3) Reengineer such vessels to permanently 

9 close all unnecessary access plugs and to reduce all 

10 through-hull penetrations to the minimum number 

11 and size necessary for operation. 

12 (4) Install in such vessels independently pow13 ered electric bilge pumps that are capable of dewa14 tering such vessels at the volume of the largest re15 maining penetration in order to supplement either 

16 an operable Higgins pump or a dewatering pump of 

17 equivalent or greater capacity. 

18 (5) Install in such vessels not fewer than four 

19 independently powered bilge alarms. 

20 (6) Inspect any such vessel in water after each 

21 time a through-hull penetration of such vessel has 

22 been removed or uncovered. 

23 (7) Verify the watertight integrity of any such 

24 vessel in the water at the outset of each waterborne 

25 departure of such vessel. 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7256 IH

1 (8) Otherwise comply with any other provisions 

2 of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 1–01 

3 in the inspection, configuration, and operation of 

4 such vessels. 

5 (c) PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF NONCOMPLIANT

6 VESSELS.—The following amphibious passenger vessels 

7 may not operate on United States waterways: 

8 (1) Commencing as of the date the regulations 

9 required by subsection (a) are prescribed, any am10 phibious passenger vessel whose configuration or op11 eration does not comply with the requirements in 

12 subsection (b). 

13 (2) Commencing as of the date specified by the 

14 Commandant of the Coast Guard pursuant to sub15 section (a)(2), any amphibious passenger vessel 

16 whose configuration or operation does not comply 

17 with the requirements in the regulations under sub18 section (a)(1). 

Æ 


lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS