I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5136
Entitled the ‘‘Offshore Supply Vessel Construction and Development Act
of 1994’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 29, 1994
Mr. TAUZIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
A BILL
Entitled the ‘‘Offshore Supply Vessel Construction and
Development Act of 1994’’.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Offshore Supply Vessel
Construction and Development Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL.
Section 2101(19) of title 46, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(19) ‘offshore supply vessel’ means a motor
vessel that regularly transports goods, supplies, indi-
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viduals in addition to the crew, or equipment in sup-
port of exploration, exploitation, or production of
offshore mineral or energy resources that—
‘‘(A) is more than 15 regulatory gross tons
but less than 500 regulatory gross tons; or
‘‘(B) is more than 15 international gross
tons, and not more than a maximum number of
international gross tons prescribed by regula-
tion of the Secretary.’’.
SEC. 3. APPLICATION TO VESSELS.
(a) Section 3702(b) of title 46, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(b)(1) The following vessels are deemed not to be
a tank vessel for purposes of this chapter or any other
law:
‘‘(A) An offshore supply vessel.
‘‘(B) A fishing or fish tender vessel of not more
than 750 regulatory gross tons, when engaged in the
fishing industry.
‘‘(2) This subsection does not affect the authority of
the Secretary under chapter 33 of this title to regulate
the operation of vessels listed in paragraph (1) of this sub-
section to ensure the safe carriage of oil and hazardous
substances.’’.
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(b) Section 3306(a) of title 46, United States Code,
is amended after ‘‘safety’’ by inserting ‘‘of the marine en-
vironment and’’.
(c) Section 5209 of Public Law 102–587 is repealed.
(d) Section 321 of Public Law 103–206 is repealed.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO PRESCRIBE REGULATIONS FOR
MANNING AND LICENSING.
(a) Section 7310 of title 46, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows: ‘‘For service on an offshore
supply vessel, an individual may be rated as able sea-
man—offshore supply vessels if the individual has the fol-
lowing service on deck on board vessels operating on the
oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (in-
cluding the Great Lakes):
‘‘(1) At least 6 months service on an offshore
supply vessel of less than 500 regulatory gross tons,
or 1600 international gross tons.
‘‘(2) An amount of service prescribed by the
Secretary on an offshore supply vessel of at least
1600 international gross tons.’’.
(b) Section 7312(d) of title 46, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘a vessel of less than 500 gross
tons’’ through ‘‘energy resources’’ and inserting ‘‘an off-
shore supply vessel’’.
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(c) Section 8104(g) of title 46, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) after ‘‘offshore supply vessel’’ by inserting
‘‘of not more than 500 regulatory gross tons or
1600 international gross tons,’’ and
(2) by adding at the end of the subsection:
‘‘The Secretary may prescribe requirements for the
minimum number of watches on an offshore supply
vessel of more than 1600 international gross tons.’’.
(d) Section 8301(b) of title 46, United States Code,
is amended—
(1) after ‘‘offshore supply vessel’’ by inserting
‘‘of not more than 500 regulatory gross tons or
1600 international gross tons,’’;
(2) after ‘‘200’’ by inserting ‘‘regulatory’’; and
(3) by adding at the end of the subsection,
‘‘The Secretary may prescribe requirements for the
minimum number of licensed individuals on an off-
shore supply vessel of more than 1600 international
gross tons.’’.
SEC. 5. CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT.
Section 8103(b)(3)(A) of title 46, United States
Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(A) an offshore supply vessel, or a similarly
engaged vessel of less than 1600 regulatory gross
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(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘In this part’’;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(b) When used in a law, regulation, document, rul-
ing, or other official act referring to the tonnage measure-
ment of a vessel—
‘‘(1) ‘international gross tons’ means gross tons
as measured under chapter 143 of this title; and
‘‘(2) ‘regulatory gross tons’ means gross tons as
measured under chapter 145 of this title.’’.
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