(e) INTERIM REQUIREMENTS.—Beginning on the 
date on which the regulations under subsection (a) are 
issued, the Commandant shall require that operators of 
DUKW-type amphibious passenger vessels that are not in 
compliance with such regulations shall be subject to the 
following requirements: 
(1) Remove the canopies and any window cov-
erings of such vessels for waterborne operations, or 
install in such vessels a canopy that does not restrict 
horizontal or vertical escape by passengers in the 
event of flooding or sinking. 
(2) If a canopy and window coverings are re-
moved from any such vessel pursuant to paragraph 
(1), require that all passengers wear a personal flo-
tation device approved by the Coast Guard before 
the onset of waterborne operations of such vessel. 
(3) Reengineer such vessels to permanently 
close all unnecessary access plugs and reduce all 
through-hull penetrations to the minimum number 
and size necessary for operation. 
(4) Install in such vessels independently pow-
ered electric bilge pumps that are capable of 
dewatering such vessels at the volume of the largest 
remaining penetration in order to supplement an op-
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erable Higgins pump or a dewatering pump of equiv-
alent or greater capacity. 
(5) Install in such vessels not fewer than 4 
independently powered bilge alarms. 
(6) Conduct an in-water inspection of any such 
vessel after each time a through-hull penetration of 
such vessel has been removed or uncovered. 
(7) Verify through an in-water inspection the 
watertight integrity of any such vessel at the outset 
of each waterborne departure of such vessel. 
(8) Install underwater LED lights that activate 
automatically in an emergency. 
(9) Otherwise comply with any other provisions 
of relevant Coast Guard guidance or instructions in 
the inspection, configuration, and operation of such 
vessels. 
SEC. 306. EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 
FOR SMALL PASSENGERS VESSELS. 
(a) RESTRUCTURING.—Chapter 305 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting the following before section 
30501: 
‘‘Subchapter I—General Provisions’’; 
(2) by inserting the following before section 
30503: 
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‘‘Subchapter II—Exoneration and Limitation 
of Liability Generally’’; 
and 
(3) by redesignating sections 30503 through 
30512 as sections 30521 through 30530, respec-
tively. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 30501 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 30501. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) COVERED SMALL PASSENGER VESSEL.— 
The term ‘covered small passenger vessel’— 
‘‘(A) means a small passenger vessel, as 
defined in section 2101 that is— 
‘‘(i) not a wing-in-ground craft; and 
‘‘(ii) carrying— 
‘‘(I) not more than 49 passengers 
on an overnight domestic voyage; and 
‘‘(II) not more than 150 pas-
sengers on any voyage that is not an 
overnight domestic voyage; and 
‘‘(B) includes any wooden vessel con-
structed prior to March 11, 1996, carrying at 
least 1 passenger for hire. 
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‘‘(2) OWNER.—The term ‘owner’ includes a 
charterer that mans, supplies, and navigates a vessel 
at the charterer’s own expense or by the charterer’s 
own procurement.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The item relating to 
section 30501 in the analysis for chapter 305 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘30501. Definitions.’’. 
(d) APPLICABILITY.—Section 30502 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘as to cov-
ered small passenger vessels, and’’ before ‘‘as otherwise 
provided’’. 
(e) PROVISIONS REQUIRING NOTICE OF CLAIM OR 
LIMITING TIME FOR BRINGING ACTION.—Section 30526 
of title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by sub-
section (a), is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘and covered 
small passenger vessels’’ after ‘‘seagoing vessels’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘6 months’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2 years’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘one year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2 years’’. 
(f) TABLES OF SUBCHAPTERS AND TABLES OF SEC-
TIONS.—The table of sections for chapter 305 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
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