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‘‘(A) on the performance of the marine 
safety program in achieving the goals of the 
marine safety strategy and annual plan under 
subsection (a) for the year covered by the re-
port; 
‘‘(B) on the program’s mission perform-
ance in achieving numerical measurable goals 
established under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(C) recommendations on how to improve 
performance of the program.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item: 
‘‘2117. Marine Safety Strategy, goals, and performance assessments.’’. 
SEC. 1104. POWERS AND DUTIES. 
Section 631 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sentence; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
shall serve as the principle advisor to the Commandant 
regarding— 
‘‘(1) the operation, regulation, inspection, iden-
tification, manning, and measurement of vessels, in-
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cluding plan approval and the application of load 
lines; 
‘‘(2) approval of materials, equipment, appli-
ances, and associated equipment; 
‘‘(3) the reporting and investigation of marine 
casualties and accidents; 
‘‘(4) the licensing, certification, documentation, 
protection and relief of merchant seamen; 
‘‘(5) suspension and revocation of licenses and 
certificates; 
‘‘(6) enforcement of manning requirements, citi-
zenship requirements, control of log books; 
‘‘(7) documentation and numbering of vessels; 
‘‘(8) State boating safety programs; 
‘‘(9) commercial instruments and maritime 
liens; 
‘‘(10) the administration of bridge safety; 
‘‘(11) administration of the navigation rules; 
‘‘(12) the prevention of pollution from vessels; 
‘‘(13) ports and waterways safety; 
‘‘(14) waterways management; including regula-
tion for regattas and marine parades; 
‘‘(15) aids to navigation; and 
‘‘(16) other duties and powers of the Secretary 
related to marine safety and stewardship. 
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‘‘(c) OTHER AUTHORITY NOT AFFECTED.—Nothing 
in subsection (b) affects— 
‘‘(1) the authority of Coast Guard officers and 
members to enforce marine safety regulations using 
authority under section 89 of this title; or 
‘‘(2) the exercise of authority under section 91 
of this title and the provisions of law codified at sec-
tions 191 through 195 of title 50 on the date of en-
actment of this paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 1105. APPEALS AND WAIVERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by inserting at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 102. Appeals and waivers 
‘‘Except for the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
any individual adjudicating an appeal of a decision or 
granting a waiver regarding marine safety, including in-
spection or manning and threats to the environment, shall 
be a qualified specialist with the training, experience and 
qualifications in marine safety to judge the facts and cir-
cumstances involved in the appeal or waiver and make a 
judgment regarding the merits of the appeal or waiver. 
In the case of an appeal or waiver involving an inspected 
vessel, vessel systems or equipment, the individual shall 
hold a letter of qualification to inspect the type of vessel, 
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vessel systems or equipment involved in the appeal or 
waiver.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘102. Appeals and waivers.’’. 
SEC. 1106. COAST GUARD ACADEMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 199. Marine safety curriculum 
‘‘The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall ensure 
that professional courses of study in marine safety are 
provided at the Coast Guard Academy, and during other 
officer accession programs, to give Coast Guard cadets 
and other officer candidates a background and under-
standing of the marine safety program. These courses may 
include such topics as program history, vessel design and 
construction, vessel inspection, casualty investigation, and 
administrative law and regulations.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘199. Marine safety curriculum.’’. 
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SEC. 1107. GEOGRAPHIC STABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 
336 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 337. Geographic stability 
‘‘The Commandant shall establish procedures that 
provide geographic stability to interested Coast Guard of-
ficers, employees, and members assigned to the marine 
safety program carried out under section 100 who have 
a minimum of 10 years of service in the marine safety 
program.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘337. Geographic stability.’’. 
SEC. 1108. APPRENTICE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 11 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 
337, as added by section 1107 of this division, the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 338. Apprentice program 
‘‘Any officer, member, or employee of the Coast 
Guard in training to become a marine inspector shall serve 
a minimum of one-year apprenticeship, unless otherwise 
directed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, under 
the guidance of a qualified inspector before conducting un-
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supervised inspections of vessels under part B of subtitle 
II of title 46. The Commandant may authorize shorter ap-
prentice periods for certain qualifications, as appro-
priate.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘338. Apprentice program.’’. 
SEC. 1109. REPORT REGARDING CIVILIAN MARINE INSPEC-
TORS. 
Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on Coast Guard’s efforts to recruit and 
retain civilian marine inspectors and investigators and the 
impact of such recruitment and retention efforts on Coast 
Guard organizational performance. 
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