Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 2019

To amend title 46, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe additional regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property on board certain small passenger vessels, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 2019 2. Regulations for covered small passenger vessels Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting , including covered small passenger vessels (as defined in subsection (n)(5)) vessels subject to inspection (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting before the period at the end , including rechargeable devices utilized for personal or commercial electronic equipment (2) by adding at the end the following: (n) Additional regulations for covered small passenger vessels (1) In general The Secretary shall prescribe additional regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property on board covered small passenger vessels. (2) Comprehensive review The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall include the provision of a comprehensive review of all requirements for covered small passenger vessels, including calculations, with respect to fire detection, protection, and suppression systems on board such vessels. (3) Requirements The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following requirements for covered small passenger vessels: (A) Requirements for the addition of interconnected fire detection, protection, and suppression equipment, including fire extinguishers, in all areas on board such vessels to which passengers have access, including dining areas, sleeping quarters, and lounges. (B) Requirements to increase fire detection, protection, and suppression systems on board such vessels in unmanned areas with machinery or areas with other potential heat sources. (C) Requirements for fire detection, suppression, and control in all areas on board such vessels to which passengers have access, including dining areas, sleeping quarters, and lounges. (D) Requirements for all such vessels to have not less than 2 avenues of escape from all general areas accessible to passengers. Such avenues of escape shall be located so that if one avenue is not available another avenue may be available. (E) Requirements, including increased standards, for marine firefighting training programs with respect to such vessels to improve crewmember training and proficiency. Such programs shall— (i) include training regarding shipboard marine firefighting operations; and (ii) be reviewed and maintained by a third party contractor approved by the Commandant. (F) Requirements for handling, storage, and operation of flammable items, such as lithium ion batteries, on board such vessels. (4) Interim policies To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall implement interim policies to, prior to the issuance by the Secretary of final regulations prescribed under paragraph (1), apply the requirements under paragraph (3) to covered small passenger vessels. (5) Definition of covered small passenger vessel In this subsection, the term covered small passenger vessel (A) means a small passenger vessel that— (i) is less than 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title; and (ii) is carrying— (I) for overnight domestic voyages, not more than 49 passengers; and (II) for all other voyages, not more than 150 passengers; and (B) includes any wooden vessel constructed prior to March 11, 1996, that carries passengers on overnight domestic voyages. . 3. Safety management system to include all small passenger vessels Title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 3202(b)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (B) by striking This chapter (1) In general This chapter; ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (2) Safety management system Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, including paragraph (1)(B), the regulations issued under section 3203, including the safety management system established by such regulations, shall apply to all small passenger vessels. ; and (2) in section 3203(a), by inserting (including, for purposes of this section, all small passenger vessels) vessels to which this chapter applies

Summary: Small Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 2019 This bill applies U.S. Coast Guard regulations regarding safety management systems to small passenger vessels and requires the Coast Guard to prescribe additional regulations to secure the safety of individuals and property on board certain small passenger vessels. The regulations prescribed must include requirements for the addition of interconnected fire detection, protection, and suppression equipment, including fire extinguishers, in all areas to which passengers have access, including dining areas, sleeping quarters, and lounges; fire detection, protection, and suppression systems in unmanned areas with machinery or areas with other potential heat sources; fire detection, suppression, and control in all areas to which passengers have access, including dining areas, sleeping quarters, and lounges; all such vessels to have not less than two avenues of escape from all general areas accessible to passengers; marine firefighting training programs to improve crew member training and proficiency; and the handling, storage, and operation of flammable items, such as lithium ion batteries.