126 
‘‘(f) STATE MARITIME ACADEMIES.— 
‘‘(1) USE OF FUNDS FOR LOANS TO STUDENTS 
ATTENDING
STATE
MARITIME
ACADEMIES.—The 
Secretary may obligate not more than 50 percent of 
the amounts appropriated to carry out this section 
for a fiscal year for loans to undergraduate students 
attending State maritime academies receiving assist-
ance under chapter 515 of this title. 
‘‘(2) ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS.— 
Students at State maritime academies receiving 
loans under the program shall maintain satisfactory 
progress toward the completion of their course of 
study as evidenced by the maintenance of a cumu-
lative C average, or its equivalent, or academic 
standing consistent with the requirements for grad-
uation, as determined by the institution. 
‘‘(g) LOAN AMOUNTS AND USE.— 
‘‘(1) MAXIMUM AMOUNTS.—The Secretary may 
not make loans to a student under the program in 
an amount that exceeds $15,000 in a calendar year 
or $60,000 in the aggregate. 
‘‘(2) USE OF LOAN PROCEEDS.—A student who 
receives a loan under the program may use the pro-
ceeds of the loan only for postsecondary expenses in-
curred at an institution designated by the Secretary
127 
under subsection (d)(4) for books, tuition, required 
fees, travel to and from training facilities, and room 
and board. 
‘‘(h) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a loan under the program, a student shall— 
‘‘(1) be eligible to hold a license or merchant 
mariner document issued by the Coast Guard; 
‘‘(2) provide to the Secretary such information 
as the Secretary may require, including all current 
Coast Guard documents, certifications, proof of 
United States citizenship or permanent legal status, 
and a statement of intent to enter a maritime ca-
reer; 
‘‘(3) meet the enrollment requirements of a 
maritime training institution designated by the Sec-
retary under subsection (d)(4); and 
‘‘(4) sign an agreement to— 
‘‘(A) complete a course of instruction at 
such a maritime training institution; and 
‘‘(B)(i) maintain a license and serve as an 
officer in the merchant marine on a docu-
mented vessel or a vessel owned and operated 
by the United States for at least 18 months of 
service at sea following the date of graduation
128 
from the maritime program for which the loan 
proceeds will be used; or 
‘‘(ii) serve as an unlicensed merchant mar-
iner on a documented vessel or a vessel owned 
and operated by the United States for at least 
18 months of service at sea following the date 
of graduation from the maritime program for 
which the loan proceeds will be used. 
‘‘(i) ADMINISTRATION OF LOANS.— 
‘‘(1) CONTENTS OF LOAN AGREEMENTS.—Any 
agreement between the Secretary and a student bor-
rower for a loan under the program shall— 
‘‘(A) be evidenced by a note or other writ-
ten instrument that provides for the repayment 
of the principal amount of the loan and any 
origination fee, together with interest thereon, 
in equal installments (or, if the student bor-
rower so requests, in graduated periodic install-
ments determined in accordance with such 
schedules as may be approved by the Secretary) 
payable quarterly, bimonthly, or monthly, at the 
option of the student borrower, over a period 
beginning 9 months from the date on which the 
student borrower completes study or discon-
tinues attendance at the maritime program for
129 
which the loans are used at the institution ap-
proved by the Secretary and not exceeding 10 
years; 
‘‘(B) include provision for acceleration of 
repayment of the whole, or any part, of such 
loan, at the option of the student borrower; 
‘‘(C) provide the loan without security and 
without endorsement; 
‘‘(D) provide that the liability to repay the 
loan shall be canceled upon the death of the 
student borrower, or if the student borrower be-
comes permanently and totally disabled, as de-
termined in accordance with regulations to be 
issued by the Secretary; 
‘‘(E) contain a notice of the system of dis-
closure of information concerning default on 
such loan to credit bureau organizations; and 
‘‘(F) include provisions for deferral of re-
payment, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) RATE OF INTEREST.—A student borrower 
who receives a loan under the program on or after 
January 1, 2010, and before October 1, 2015, shall 
be obligated to repay the loan amount to the Sec-
retary, together with interest beginning in the period
130 
referred to in paragraph (1)(A), at a rate to be de-
termined as follows: 
‘‘(A) For a loan for which the first dis-
bursement is made on or after January 1, 
2010, and before October 1, 2011, 5.6 percent 
on the unpaid principal balance of the loan. 
‘‘(B) For a loan for which the first dis-
bursement is made on or after October 1, 2011, 
and before October 1, 2012, 4.5 percent on the 
unpaid principal balance of the loan. 
‘‘(C) For a loan for which the first dis-
bursement is made on or after October 1, 2012, 
3.4 percent on the unpaid principal balance of 
the loan. 
‘‘(3) DISCLOSURE
REQUIRED
PRIOR
TO
DIS-
BURSEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall at 
or prior to the time the Secretary makes a loan 
to a student borrower under the program, pro-
vide thorough and adequate loan information on 
such loan to the student borrower. The disclo-
sures required by this paragraph may be made 
as part of the written application material pro-
vided to the student borrower, as part of the 
promissory note evidencing the loan, or on a
131 
separate written form provided to the student 
borrower. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—The disclosures shall 
include— 
‘‘(i) the address to which communica-
tions and payments should be sent; 
‘‘(ii) the principal amount of the loan; 
‘‘(iii) the amount of any charges col-
lected at or prior to the disbursal of the 
loan and whether such charges are to be 
deducted from the proceeds of the loan or 
paid separately by the student borrower; 
‘‘(iv) the stated interest rate on the 
loan; 
‘‘(v) the yearly and cumulative max-
imum amounts that may be borrowed; 
‘‘(vi) an explanation of when repay-
ment of the loan will be required and when 
the student borrower will be obligated to 
pay interest that accrues on the loan; 
‘‘(vii) a statement as to the minimum 
and maximum repayment term that the 
Secretary may impose, and the minimum 
monthly payment required by law and a 
description of any penalty imposed as a
132 
consequence of default, such as liability for 
expenses reasonably incurred in attempts 
by the Secretary to collect on a loan; 
‘‘(viii) a statement of the total cumu-
lative balance, including the loan applied 
for, owed by the student borrower to the 
Secretary, and an estimate of the projected 
monthly payment, given such cumulative 
balance; 
‘‘(ix) an explanation of any special op-
tions the student borrower may have for 
loan consolidation or other refinancing of 
the loan; 
‘‘(x) a statement that the student bor-
rower has the right to prepay all or part 
of the loan, at any time, without penalty; 
‘‘(xi) a statement summarizing cir-
cumstances in which repayment of the loan 
or interest that accrues on the loan may be 
deferred, and a brief notice of the program 
for repayment of loans, on the basis of 
military service, pursuant to the Depart-
ment of Defense educational loan repay-
ment program (10 U.S.C. 16302);
133 
‘‘(xii) a definition of default and the 
consequences to the student borrower if 
the student borrower defaults, together 
with a statement that the disbursement of, 
and the default on, a loan under this part 
shall be reported to a credit bureau or 
credit reporting agency; 
‘‘(xiii) to the extent practicable, the 
effect of accepting the loan on the eligi-
bility of the student borrower for other 
forms of student assistance; and 
‘‘(xiv) an explanation of any cost the 
student borrower may incur in the making 
or collection of the loan. 
‘‘(C) INFORMATION
TO
BE
PROVIDED 
WITHOUT
COST.—The information provided 
under this paragraph shall be available to the 
Secretary without cost to the student borrower. 
‘‘(4) REPAYMENT AFTER DEFAULT.—The Sec-
retary may require any student borrower who has 
defaulted on a loan made under the program to— 
‘‘(A) pay all reasonable collection costs as-
sociated with such loan; and 
‘‘(B) repay the loan pursuant to an income 
contingent repayment plan.
134 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION TO REDUCE RATES AND 
FEES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
section, the Secretary may prescribe by regulation 
any reductions in the interest rate or origination fee 
paid by a student borrower of a loan made under the 
program as the Secretary determines appropriate to 
encourage ontime repayment of the loan. Such re-
ductions may be offered only if the Secretary deter-
mines the reductions are cost neutral and in the best 
financial interest of the United States. 
‘‘(6) COLLECTION OF REPAYMENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall collect repayments made under the pro-
gram and exercise due diligence in such collection, 
including maintenance of all necessary records to en-
sure that maximum repayments are made. Collection 
and servicing of repayments under the program shall 
be pursued to the full extent of the law, including 
wage garnishment if necessary. The Secretary of the 
Department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall provide the Secretary of Transportation with 
any information regarding a mariner that may aid 
in the collection of repayments under this section. 
‘‘(7) REPAYMENT SCHEDULE.—A student bor-
rower who receives a loan under the program shall 
repay the loan quarterly, bimonthly, or monthly, at
135 
the option of the student borrower, over a period be-
ginning 9 months from the date the student bor-
rower completes study or discontinues attendance at 
the maritime program for which the loan proceeds 
are used and ending not more than 10 years after 
the date repayment begins. Provisions for deferral of 
repayment shall be determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(8) CONTRACTS FOR SERVICING AND COLLEC-
TION OF LOANS.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) enter into a contract or other ar-
rangement with State or nonprofit agencies 
and, on a competitive basis, with collection 
agencies for servicing and collection of loans 
under this section; and 
‘‘(B) conduct litigation necessary to carry 
out this section. 
‘‘(j) REVOLVING LOAN FUND.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a revolving loan fund consisting of amounts 
deposited in the fund under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—The Secretary shall deposit in 
the fund— 
‘‘(A) receipts from the payment of prin-
cipal and interest on loans made under the pro-
gram; and
137 
‘‘(3) the total amount of loans made under pro-
gram that are in default as of the date of the report. 
‘‘(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2015— 
‘‘(1) $10,000,000 for making loans under the 
program; and 
‘‘(2) $1,000,000 for administrative expenses of 
the Secretary in carrying out the program. 
‘‘§ 51706. Maritime recruitment, training, and reten-
tion grant program 
‘‘(a) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of enactment of this section, and at 
least once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of 
Transportation, acting through the Administrator of 
the Maritime Administration, shall publish in the 
Federal Register a plan that describes the dem-
onstration, research, and multistate project priorities 
of the Department of Transportation concerning 
merchant mariner recruitment, training, and reten-
tion for the 3-year period following the date of publi-
cation of the plan. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—A plan published under para-
graph (1) shall contain strategies and identify poten-
138 
tial projects to address merchant mariner recruit-
ment, training, and retention issues in the United 
States. 
‘‘(3) FACTORS.—In developing a plan under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into account, 
at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) the availability of existing research 
(as of the date of publication of the plan); 
‘‘(B) the need to ensure results that have 
broad applicability; 
‘‘(C) the benefits of economies of scale and 
the efficiency of potential projects; and 
‘‘(D) the likelihood that the results of po-
tential projects will be useful to policymakers 
and stakeholders in addressing merchant mar-
iner recruitment, training, and retention issues. 
‘‘(4) CONSULTATION.—In developing a plan 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult 
with representatives of the maritime industry, labor 
organizations, and other governmental entities and 
parties with an interest in the maritime industry. 
‘‘(5) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The Sec-
retary shall transmit copies of a plan published 
under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
139 
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 
grants to a maritime training institution to carry 
out demonstration projects that implement the prior-
ities identified in the plan prepared under subsection 
(a)(1), for the purpose of developing and imple-
menting methods to address merchant mariner re-
cruitment, training, and retention issues. 
‘‘(2) GRANT AWARDS.—Grants shall be awarded 
under this subsection on a competitive basis under 
guidelines and requirements to be established by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant for a project under this subsection, a maritime 
training institution shall submit to the Secretary a 
grant proposal that includes, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) information demonstrating the esti-
mated effectiveness of the project; and 
‘‘(B) a method for evaluating the effective-
ness of the project. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Projects eligible for 
grants under this subsection may include—
140 
‘‘(A) the establishment of maritime tech-
nology skill centers developed through local 
partnerships of industry, labor, education, com-
munity-based organizations, economic develop-
ment organizations, or Federal, State, and local 
government agencies to meet unmet skills needs 
of the maritime industry; 
‘‘(B) projects that provide training to up-
grade the skills of workers who are employed in 
the maritime industry; 
‘‘(C) projects that promote the use of dis-
tance learning, enabling students to take 
courses through the use of media technology, 
such as videos, teleconferencing, and the Inter-
net; 
‘‘(D) projects that assist in providing serv-
ices to address maritime recruitment and train-
ing of youth residing in targeted high poverty 
areas within empowerment zones and enterprise 
communities; 
‘‘(E) the establishment of partnerships 
with national and regional organizations with 
special expertise in developing, organizing, and 
administering merchant mariner recruitment 
and training services; and
141 
‘‘(F) the establishment of maritime train-
ing programs that foster technical skills and 
operational productivity in communities in 
which economies are related to or dependent 
upon the maritime industry. 
‘‘(c) PROJECTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) PROJECTS.—The Secretary may award 
grants to carry out projects identified in a plan pub-
lished under subsection (a)(1) under which the 
project sponsor will— 
‘‘(A) design, develop, and test an array of 
approaches to providing recruitment, training, 
or retention services to one or more targeted 
populations; 
‘‘(B) in conjunction with employers, orga-
nized labor, other groups (such as community 
coalitions), and Federal, State, or local agen-
cies, design, develop, and test various training 
approaches in order to determine effective prac-
tices; or 
‘‘(C) assist in the development and replica-
tion of effective service delivery strategies for 
the national maritime industry as a whole. 
‘‘(2) RESEARCH
PROJECTS.—The Secretary 
may award grants to carry out research projects
142 
identified in a plan published under subsection 
(a)(1) that will contribute to the solution of mari-
time industry recruitment, training, and retention 
issues in the United States. 
‘‘(3) MULTISTATE OR REGIONAL PROJECTS.— 
The Secretary may award grants to carry out 
multistate or regional projects identified in a plan 
published under subsection (a)(1) to effectively dis-
seminate best practices and models for implementing 
maritime recruitment, training, and retention serv-
ices designed to address industry-wide skill short-
ages. 
‘‘(4) GRANT AWARDS.—Grants shall be awarded 
under this subsection on a competitive basis under 
guidelines and requirements to be established by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2015— 
‘‘(1) $10,000,000 for making grants under this 
section; and 
‘‘(2) $1,000,000 for administrative expenses of 
the Secretary in carrying out this section.’’.
143 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘Sec. 51705. Maritime career training loan program. 
‘‘Sec. 51706. Maritime recruitment, training, and retention grant program.’’. 
TITLE VII—COAST GUARD 
MODERNIZATION 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Coast Guard Mod-
ernization Act of 2009’’. 
Subtitle A—Coast Guard 
Leadership 
SEC. 711. ADMIRALS AND VICE ADMIRALS. 
(a) ADMIRALS.—Section 41 of title 14, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘an admiral,’’ and inserting 
‘‘admirals;’’. 
(b) VICE COMMANDANT.—Section 47 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘assign-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘appointment’’; and 
(2) in the text by striking ‘‘vice admiral’’ and 
inserting ‘‘admiral’’. 
(c) VICE ADMIRALS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 50 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
144 
‘‘§ 50. Vice admirals 
‘‘(a)(1) The President may designate 4 positions of 
importance and responsibility that shall be held by officers 
who— 
‘‘(A) while so serving, shall have the grade of 
vice admiral, with the pay and allowances of that 
grade; and 
‘‘(B) shall perform any duties as the Com-
mandant may prescribe. 
‘‘(2) The 4 vice admiral positions authorized under 
paragraph (1) are, respectively, the following: 
‘‘(A) The Deputy Commandant for Mission 
Support. 
‘‘(B) The Deputy Commandant for Operations 
Policy. 
‘‘(C) The Commander, Force Readiness Com-
mand. 
‘‘(D) The Commander, Operations Command. 
‘‘(3) The President may appoint, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, and reappoint, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Senate, to each of the posi-
tions designated under paragraph (1) an officer of the 
Coast Guard who is serving on active duty above the grade 
of captain. The Commandant shall make recommendations 
for those appointments.
145 
‘‘(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
Deputy Commandant for Operations Policy must have at 
least 10 years experience in vessel inspection, marine cas-
ualty investigations, mariner licensing, or an equivalent 
technical expertise in the design and construction of com-
mercial vessels, with at least 4 years of leadership experi-
ence at a staff or unit carrying out marine safety func-
tions. 
‘‘(B) The requirements of subparagraph (A) do not 
apply to such Deputy Commandant if the subordinate offi-
cer serving in the grade of rear admiral with responsibil-
ities for marine safety, security, and stewardship possesses 
that experience. 
‘‘(b)(1) The appointment and the grade of vice admi-
ral under this section shall be effective on the date the 
officer assumes that duty and, except as provided in para-
graph (2) of this subsection or in section 51(d) of this 
title, shall terminate on the date the officer is detached 
from that duty. 
‘‘(2) An officer who is appointed to a position des-
ignated under subsection (a) shall continue to hold the 
grade of vice admiral— 
‘‘(A) while under orders transferring the officer 
to another position designated under subsection (a), 
beginning on the date the officer is detached from
146 
duty and terminating on the date before the day the 
officer assumes the subsequent duty, but not for 
more than 60 days; 
‘‘(B) while hospitalized, beginning on the day of 
the hospitalization and ending on the day the officer 
is discharged from the hospital, but not for more 
than 180 days; and 
‘‘(C) while awaiting retirement, beginning on 
the date the officer is detached from duty and end-
ing on the day before the officer’s retirement, but 
not for more than 60 days. 
‘‘(c)(1) An appointment of an officer under sub-
section (a) does not vacate the permanent grade held by 
the officer. 
‘‘(2) An officer serving in a grade above rear admiral 
who holds the permanent grade of rear admiral (lower 
half) shall be considered for promotion to the permanent 
grade of rear admiral as if the officer was serving in the 
officer’s permanent grade. 
‘‘(d) Whenever a vacancy occurs in a position des-
ignated under subsection (a), the Commandant shall in-
form the President of the qualifications needed by an offi-
cer serving in that position to carry out effectively the du-
ties and responsibilities of that position.’’.
147 
(2) APPLICATION
OF
DEPUTY
COMMANDANT 
QUALIFICATION
REQUIREMENT.—The requirement 
under section 50(a)(4)(A) of title 14, United States 
Code, as amended by this subsection, shall apply on 
and after October 1, 2011. 
(d) REPEAL.—Section 50a of title 14, United States 
Code, is repealed. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 51 of that 
title is amended— 
(1) by amending subsections (a), (b), and (c) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(a) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, 
while serving in the grade of admiral or vice admiral, is 
retired for physical disability shall be placed on the retired 
list with the highest grade in which that officer served. 
‘‘(b) An officer, other than the Commandant, who is 
retired while serving in the grade of admiral or vice admi-
ral, or who, after serving at least two and one-half years 
in the grade of admiral or vice admiral, is retired while 
serving in a lower grade, may in the discretion of the 
President, be retired with the highest grade in which that 
officer served. 
‘‘(c) An officer, other than the Commandant, who, 
after serving less than two and one-half years in the grade
148 
of admiral or vice admiral, is retired while serving in a 
lower grade, shall be retired in his permanent grade.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(2) by striking ‘‘Area Com-
mander, or Chief of Staff’’ and inserting ‘‘or Vice 
Admirals’’. 
(f) CONTINUITY OF GRADE.—Section 52 of title 14, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘and 
admirals’’ after ‘‘Vice admirals’’; and 
(2) in the text by inserting ‘‘or admiral’’ after 
‘‘vice admiral’’ the first time that term appears. 
(g) CONTINUATION ON ACTIVE DUTY.—The second 
sentence of section 290(a) of title 14, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Officers, other than the 
Commandant, serving for the time being or who have 
served in the grade of vice admiral or admiral are not sub-
ject to consideration for continuation under this sub-
section, and as to all other provisions of this section shall 
be considered as having been continued in the grade of 
rear admiral.’’. 
(h) TREATMENT OF INCUMBENTS; TRANSITION.— 
(1) VICE COMMANDANT.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the officer who, on the date 
of enactment of this Act, is serving in the Coast 
Guard as Vice Commandant—
149 
(A) shall continue to serve as Vice Com-
mandant; 
(B) shall have the grade of admiral with 
pay and allowances of that grade; and 
(C) shall not be required to be reappointed 
by reason of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) CHIEF OF STAFF, COMMANDER, ATLANTIC 
AREA, OR
COMMANDER, PACIFIC
AREA.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, an officer who, 
on the date of enactment of this Act, is serving in 
the Coast Guard as Chief of Staff, Commander, At-
lantic Area, or Commander, Pacific Area— 
(A) shall continue to have the grade of vice 
admiral with pay and allowance of that grade 
until such time that the officer is relieved of his 
or her duties and appointed and confirmed to 
another position as a vice admiral or admiral; 
and 
(B) for the purposes of transition, may 
continue, for not more than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, to perform the 
duties of the officer’s former position and any 
other such duties that the Commandant pre-
scribes. 
(i) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
150 
(1) The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking the item relating to section 
47 and inserting the following: 
‘‘47. Vice Commandant; appointment.’’; 
(B) by striking the item relating to section 
50 and inserting the following: 
‘‘50. Vice admirals.’’; 
(C) by striking the item relating to section 
50a; and 
(D) by striking the item relating to section 
52 and inserting the following: 
‘‘52. Vice admirals and admirals, continuity of grade.’’. 
(j) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 47 of title 14, 
United States Code, is further amended in the fifth sen-
tence by striking ‘‘subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘section’’. 
Subtitle B—Marine Safety 
Administration 
SEC. 721. MARINE SAFETY. 
(a) ESTABLISH MARINE SAFETY AS A COAST GUARD 
FUNCTION.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
151 
‘‘§ 101. Marine safety 
‘‘To protect life, property, and the environment on, 
under, and over waters subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States and on vessels subject to the jurisdiction 
of the United States, the Commandant shall promote mar-
itime safety as follows: 
‘‘(1) By taking actions necessary and in the 
public interest to protect such life, property, and the 
environment. 
‘‘(2) Based on the following priorities: 
‘‘(A) Preventing marine casualties and 
threats to the environment. 
‘‘(B) Minimizing the impacts of marine 
casualties and environmental threats. 
‘‘(C) Maximizing lives and property saved 
and environment protected in the event of a 
marine casualty.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such chapter is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new item: 
‘‘101. Marine safety.’’. 
SEC. 722. MARINE SAFETY STAFF. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 14, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new sections:
152 
‘‘§ 57. Marine safety workforce 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION
OF MARINE SAFETY WORK-
FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Commandant, shall designate those po-
sitions in the Coast Guard that constitute the ma-
rine safety workforce. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED POSITIONS.—In designating po-
sitions under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall in-
clude, at a minimum, the following marine safety-re-
lated positions: 
‘‘(A) Program oversight. 
‘‘(B) Vessel and facility inspection. 
‘‘(C) Casualty investigation. 
‘‘(D) Pollution investigation. 
‘‘(E) Merchant Mariner licensing, docu-
mentation, and registry. 
‘‘(F) Marine safety engineering or other 
technical activities. 
‘‘(3) MARINE
SAFETY
MANAGEMENT
HEAD-
QUARTER ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall also des-
ignate under paragraph (1) those marine safety-re-
lated positions located at Coast Guard headquarters 
units, including the Marine Safety Center and the 
National Maritime Center.
153 
‘‘(b) 
CAREER
PATHS.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Commandant, shall ensure that appropriate 
career paths for civilian and military Coast Guard per-
sonnel who wish to pursue careers in marine safety are 
identified in terms of the education, training, experience, 
and assignments necessary for career progression of civil-
ians and members of the Armed Forces to the most senior 
marine safety positions. The Secretary shall make avail-
able published information on such career paths. 
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—With regard to the marine 
safety workforce, an officer, member, or civilian employee 
of the Coast Guard assigned as a— 
‘‘(1) marine inspector shall have the training, 
experience, and qualifications equivalent to that re-
quired for a similar position at a classification soci-
ety recognized by the Secretary under section 3316 
of title 46 for the type of vessel, system, or equip-
ment that is inspected; 
‘‘(2) marine casualty investigator shall have 
training, experience, and qualifications in investiga-
tion, marine casualty reconstruction, evidence collec-
tion and preservation, human factors, and docu-
mentation using best investigation practices by Fed-
eral and non-Federal entities; or
154 
‘‘(3) marine safety engineer shall have knowl-
edge, skill, and practical experience in— 
‘‘(A) the construction and operation of 
commercial vessels; 
‘‘(B) judging the character, strength, sta-
bility, and safety qualities of such vessels and 
their equipment; or 
‘‘(C) the qualifications and training of ves-
sel personnel. 
‘‘(d) APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENT.—Any officer, 
member, or employee of the Coast Guard in training to 
become a marine inspector, marine casualty investigator, 
or a marine safety engineer shall serve a minimum of one- 
year apprenticeship, unless otherwise directed by the Com-
mandant, under the guidance of a qualified marine inspec-
tor, marine casualty investigator, or marine safety engi-
neer. The Commandant may authorize shorter apprentice-
ship periods for certain qualifications, as appropriate. 
‘‘(e) BALANCED WORKFORCE POLICY.—In the devel-
opment of marine safety workforce policies under this sec-
tion with respect to any civilian employees or applicants 
for employment with the Coast Guard, the Secretary shall, 
consistent with the merit system principles set out in para-
graphs (1) and (2) of section 2301(b) of title 5, take into 
consideration the need to maintain a balanced workforce
155 
in which women and members of racial and ethnic minor-
ity groups are appropriately represented in Government 
service. 
‘‘(f) MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION
SYSTEM.—The 
Secretary, acting through the Commandant, shall estab-
lish a management information system for the marine 
safety workforce that shall provide, at a minimum, the fol-
lowing standardized information on persons serving in ma-
rine safety positions: 
‘‘(1) Qualifications, assignment history, and 
tenure in assignments of persons in the marine safe-
ty workforce. 
‘‘(2) Promotion rates for military and civilian 
personnel in the marine safety workforce. 
‘‘(g) ASSESSMENT OF ADEQUACY OF MARINE SAFE-
TY WORKFORCE.— 
‘‘(1) REPORT.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Commandant, shall report to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate by De-
cember 1 of each year on the adequacy of the cur-
rent marine safety workforce to meet that antici-
pated workload.
156 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall specify the 
number of civilian and military Coast Guard per-
sonnel currently assigned to marine safety positions 
and shall identify positions that are understaffed to 
meet the anticipated marine safety workload. 
‘‘(h) SECTOR CHIEF OF MARINE SAFETY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—There shall be in each 
Coast Guard sector a Chief of Marine Safety who 
shall be at least a Lieutenant Commander or civilian 
employee within the grade GS–13 of the General 
Schedule, and who shall be a— 
‘‘(A) marine inspector, qualified to inspect 
vessels, vessel systems, and equipment com-
monly found in the sector; and 
‘‘(B) qualified marine casualty investigator 
or marine safety engineer. 
‘‘(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Chief of Marine Safety 
for a sector— 
‘‘(A) is responsible for all individuals who, 
on behalf of the Coast Guard, inspect or exam-
ine vessels, conduct marine casualty investiga-
tions; and 
‘‘(B) if not the Coast Guard officer in 
command of that sector, is the principal advisor
175 
under paragraph (1), when a catcher vessel is 
removed from the directed pollock fishery, the 
fishery allowance for pollock for the vessel being 
removed— 
‘‘(i) shall be based on the catch his-
tory determination for the vessel made 
pursuant to section 679.62 of title 50, 
Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect 
on the date of enactment of the Maritime 
Safety Act of 2009; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be assigned, for all pur-
poses under this title, in the manner speci-
fied by the owner of the vessel being re-
moved to any other catcher vessel or 
among other catcher vessels participating 
in the fishery cooperative if such vessel or 
vessels remain in the fishery cooperative 
for at least one year after the date on 
which the vessel being removed leaves the 
directed pollock fishery. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY FOR FISHERY ENDORSE-
MENT.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(C), a vessel that is removed pursuant to this 
paragraph shall be permanently ineligible for a 
fishery endorsement, and any claim (including
176 
relating to catch history) associated with such 
vessel that could qualify any owner of such ves-
sel for any permit to participate in any fishery 
within the exclusive economic zone of the 
United States shall be extinguished, unless such 
removed vessel is thereafter designated to re-
place a vessel to be removed pursuant to this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATIONS
ON
STATUTORY
CON-
STRUCTION.—Nothing in this paragraph shall 
be construed— 
‘‘(i) to make the vessels AJ (United 
States official number 905625), DONA 
MARTITA (United States official number 
651751), NORDIC EXPLORER (United 
States 
official 
number 
678234), 
and 
PROVIDIAN (United States official num-
ber 1062183) ineligible for a fishery en-
dorsement or any permit necessary to par-
ticipate in any fishery under the authority 
of the New England Fishery Management 
Council or the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Man-
agement Council established, respectively, 
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of sec-
211 
(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-
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