stances, taking into consideration the character-
istics of offshore supply vessels, their methods 
of operation, and their service in support of ex-
ploration, exploitation, or production of offshore 
mineral or energy resources; 
(B) for the purpose of enforcing chapter 
37 of title 46, United States Code, use tank 
vessel standards for offshore supply vessels of 
at least 6,000 gross tons after considering the 
characteristics, methods of operation, and na-
ture of the service of the vessel; and 
(C) authorize a master, mate, or engineer 
whom the Secretary decides possesses the expe-
rience on an offshore supply vessel under 6,000 
gross tons to serve on an offshore supply vessel 
over at least 6,000 gross tons. 
SEC. 21. ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. 
Section 2101(1)(B) of title 46, United States Coded, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘with the exception of emergency 
locator beacons,’’ before ‘‘does’’. 
SEC. 22. LIFESAVING DEVICES ON UNINSPECTED VESSELS. 
Section 4102(b) of 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations requir-
ing the installation, maintenance, and use of life pre-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
01:37 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
servers and other lifesaving devices for individuals on 
board uninspected vessels.’’. 
SEC. 23. STUDY OF BLENDED FUELS IN MARINE APPLICA-
TION. 
(a) SURVEY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, acting through the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, shall submit a 
survey of published data and reports, pertaining to 
the use, safety, and performance of blended fuels in 
marine applications, to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committees on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
(2) INCLUDED
INFORMATION.—To the extent 
possible, the survey required in subsection (a), shall 
include data and reports on— 
(A) the impact of blended fuel on the oper-
ation, durability, and performance of rec-
reational and commercial marine engines, ves-
sels, and marine engine and vessel components 
and associated equipment; 
(B) the safety impacts of blended fuels on 
consumers that own and operate recreational 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
01:37 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
and commercial marine engines and marine en-
gine components and associated equipment; and 
(C) to the extent available, fires and explo-
sions on board vessels propelled by engines 
using blended fuels. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 36 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary, acting through the Commandant, shall con-
duct a comprehensive study on the use, safety, and 
performance of blended fuels in marine applications. 
The Secretary is authorized to conduct such study in 
conjunction with— 
(A) any other Federal agency; 
(B) any State government or agency; 
(C) any local government or agency, in-
cluding local police and fire departments; and 
(D) any private entity, including engine 
and vessel manufacturers. 
(2) EVALUATION.—The study shall include an 
evaluation of— 
(A) the impact of blended fuel on the oper-
ation, durability and performance of rec-
reational and commercial marine engines, ves-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
sels, and marine engine and vessel components 
and associated equipment; 
(B) the safety impacts of blended fuels on 
consumers that own and operate recreational 
and commercial marine engines and marine en-
gine components and associated equipment; and 
(C) fires and explosions on board vessels 
propelled by engines using blended fuels. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Home-
land Security to carry out the survey and study under this 
section $1,000,000. 
SEC. 24. RENEWAL OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) GREAT
LAKES
PILOTAGE
ADVISORY
COM-
MITTEE.—Section 9307(f)(1) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2010.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2020.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL BOATING SAFETY ADVISORY COUN-
CIL.—Section 13110 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by deleting the first sen-
tence; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2020.’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
(c) HOUSTON-GALVESTON NAVIGATION SAFETY AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 18(h) of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–241 as 
amended by Public Law 104–324) is amended by striking 
‘‘September 30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2020.’’. 
(d) LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERWAY SAFETY 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 19 of the Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–241) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘twenty-four’’ and inserting ‘‘twen-
ty-five’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(12) One member representing the Associated 
Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2020.’’. 
(e) TOWING SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The 
Act to Establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in 
the Department of Transportation (33 U.S.C. 1231a) is 
amended— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) There is established a Towing Safety Advisory 
Committee (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Committee’). 
The Committee shall consist of eighteen members with 
particular expertise, knowledge, and experience regarding 
shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and 
towing safety as follows: 
‘‘(1) Seven members representing the barge and 
towing industry, reflecting a regional geographic bal-
ance. 
‘‘(2) One member representing the offshore 
mineral and oil supply vessel industry. 
‘‘(3) One member representing holders of active 
licensed Masters or Pilots of towing vessels with ex-
perience on the Western Rivers and the Gulf Intra-
coastal Waterway. 
‘‘(4) One member representing the holders of 
active licensed Masters of towing vessels in offshore 
service. 
‘‘(5) One member representing Masters who are 
active ship-docking or harbor towing vessel. 
‘‘(6) One member representing licensed or unli-
censed towing vessel engineers with formal training 
and experience. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
‘‘(7) Two members representing each of the fol-
lowing groups: 
‘‘(A) Port districts, authorities, or terminal 
operators. 
‘‘(B) Shippers (of whom at least one shall 
be engaged in the shipment of oil or hazardous 
materials by barge). 
‘‘(8) Two members representing the general 
public.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2020.’’. 
(f) NAVIGATION SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Sec-
tion 5 of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 
U.S.C. 2073) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall establish a Navigation Safety Advisory Council 
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘Council’), consisting 
of not more than 21 members. All members shall 
have expertise in Inland and International vessel 
navigation Rules of the Road, aids to maritime navi-
gation, maritime law, vessel safety, port safety, or 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
commercial diving safety. Upon appointment, all 
non-Federal members shall be designated as rep-
resentative members to represent the viewpoints and 
interests of one of the following groups or organiza-
tions: 
‘‘(A) Commercial vessel owners or opera-
tors. 
‘‘(B) Professional mariners. 
‘‘(C) Recreational boaters. 
‘‘(D) The recreational boating industry. 
‘‘(E) State agencies responsible for vessel 
or port safety. 
‘‘(F) The Maritime Law Association. 
‘‘(2) PANELS.—Additional persons may be ap-
pointed to panels of the Council to assist the Council 
in performance of its functions. 
‘‘(3) NOMINATIONS.—The Secretary, through 
the Coast Guard Commandant, shall not less often 
than once a year publish a notice in the Federal 
Register soliciting nominations for membership on 
the Council. 
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Council shall advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary, 
through the Coast Guard Commandant, on matters relat-
ing to maritime collisions, rammings, groundings, Inland 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS
Rules of the Road, International Rules of the Road, navi-
gation regulations and equipment, routing measures, ma-
rine information, diving safety, and aids to navigation sys-
tems. Any advice and recommendations made by the 
Council to the Secretary shall reflect the independent 
judgment of the Council on the matter concerned. The 
Council shall meet at the call of the Coast Guard Com-
mandant, but in any event not less than twice during each 
calendar year. All proceedings of the Council shall be pub-
lic, and a record of the proceedings shall be made available 
for public inspection.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2020.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:26 Jun 03, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2652.IH
H2652
bajohnson on PROD1PC77 with BILLS