I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6890 

To prohibit Russian vessels from operating in the navigable waters of the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 1, 2022 

Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. WILSON

of South Carolina, Mr. HUIZENGA, and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To prohibit Russian vessels from operating in the navigable 

waters of the United States, 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. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bringing Oligarch Ac5 countability Through Seizure Act’’ or the ‘‘BOATS Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON ENTRY AND OPERATION. 

7 (a) PROHIBITION.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 6890 IH

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro2 vided in this section, no vessel described in sub3 section (b) may enter or operate in the navigable 

4 waters of the United States or transfer cargo in any 

5 port or place under the jurisdiction of the United 

6 States. 

7 (2) LIMITATIONS ON APPLICATION.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—The prohibition under 

9 paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a 

10 vessel described in subsection (b)(1) if the Sec11 retary of State determines that— 

12 (i) the vessel is owned or operated by 

13 a Russian national or operated by the gov14 ernment of the Russian Federation; and 

15 (ii) it is in the national security inter16 est not to apply the prohibition to such 

17 vessel. 

18 (B) NOTICE.—Not later than 15 days 

19 after making a determination under subpara20 graph (A), the Secretary of State shall submit 

21 to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

22 Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc23 ture of the House of Representatives and the 

24 Committee on Foreign Relations and the Com25 mittee on Commerce, Science, and TransporVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:18 Mar 14, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6890.IH H6890

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 6890 IH

1 tation of the Senate written notice of the deter2 mination and the basis upon which the deter3 mination was made. 

4 (C) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary of 

5 State shall publish a notice in the Federal Reg6 ister of each determination made under sub7 paragraph (A). 

8 (b) VESSELS DESCRIBED.—A vessel referred to in 

9 subsection (a) is a vessel owned or operated by a Russian 

10 national or operated by the Government of the Russian 

11 Federation. 

12 (c) INFORMATION AND PUBLICATION.—The Sec13 retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op14 erating, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, 

15 shall— 

16 (1) maintain timely information on the registra17 tions of all foreign vessels owned or operated by or 

18 on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federa19 tion, a Russian national, or a entity organized under 

20 the laws of the Russian Federation or any jurisdic21 tion within the Russian Federation; and 

22 (2) periodically publish in the Federal Register 

23 a list of the vessels described in paragraph (1). 

24 (d) NOTIFICATION OF GOVERNMENTS.— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 6890 IH

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 

2 notify each government, the agents or instrumental3 ities of which are maintaining a registration of a for4 eign vessel that is included on a list published under 

5 subsection (c)(2), not later than 30 days after such 

6 publication, that all vessels registered under such 

7 government’s authority are subject to subsection (a). 

8 (2) ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION.—In the case of 

9 a government that continues to maintain a registra10 tion for a vessel that is included on such list after 

11 receiving an initial notification under paragraph (1), 

12 the Secretary shall issue an additional notification to 

13 such government not later than 120 days after the 

14 publication of a list under subsection (c)(2). 

15 (e) NOTIFICATION OF VESSELS.—Upon receiving a 

16 notice of arrival under section 70001(a)(5) of title 46, 

17 United States Code, from a vessel described in subsection 

18 (b), the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 

19 Guard is operating shall notify the master of such vessel 

20 that the vessel may not enter or operate in the navigable 

21 waters of the United States or transfer cargo in any port 

22 or place under the jurisdiction of the United States, un23 less— 

24 (1) the Secretary of State has made a deter25 mination under subsection (a)(2); or 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 6890 IH

1 (2) the Secretary of the department in which 

2 the Coast Guard is operating allows provisional 

3 entry of the vessel, or transfer of cargo from the ves4 sel, under subsection (f). 

5 (f) PROVISIONAL ENTRY OR CARGO TRANSFER.— 

6 Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 

7 Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 

8 operating may allow provisional entry of, or transfer of 

9 cargo from, a vessel, if such entry or transfer is necessary 

10 for the safety of the vessel or persons aboard. 

11 SEC. 3. SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF VESSEL; FINE AND 

12 IMPRISONMENT. 

13 If any owner, agent, master, officer, or person in 

14 charge, or any member of the crew of any such vessel fails 

15 to comply with any regulation or rule issued or order given 

16 under the provisions of this subtitle, or obstructs or inter17 feres with the exercise of any power conferred by this sub18 title— 

19 (1) the vessel, together with the tackle, apparel, 

20 furniture, and equipment, shall be subject to seizure 

21 and forfeiture to the United States in the same 

22 manner as merchandise is forfeited for violation of 

23 the customs revenue laws; and 

24 (2) the person guilty of such failure, obstruc25 tion, or interference shall be punished by imprisonVerDate Sep 11 2014 18:18 Mar 14, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6890.IH H6890

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 6890 IH

1 ment for not more than 50 years and fined not more 

2 than $10,000,000,000. 

3 SEC. 4. AUCTION AND PROCEEDS OF VESSEL SEIZURE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Any vessel seized and forfeited 

5 under section 422 shall be sold at auction to any entity 

6 that is not the Government of the Russian Federation, a 

7 Russian national, or a entity organized under the laws of 

8 the Russian Federation or any jurisdiction within the Rus9 sian Federation. The proceeds of any such auction may 

10 only be used for humanitarian aid to Ukraine that is pro11 vided by a state that is a member of the North Atlantic 

12 Treaty Organization. 

13 (b) APPLICABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall be effective 

14 until the earlier of— 

15 (1) 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

16 Act; and 

17 (2) the date on which the President certifies 

18 that the conflict between the Russian Federation 

19 and Ukraine has concluded. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS