(4) A requirement for annual training for opera-
tors and crew of DUKW-type amphibious passengers 
vessels, including— 
(A) training for personal flotation and seat 
belt requirements, verifying the integrity of the 
vessel at the onset of each waterborne departure, 
identification of weather hazards, and use of Na-
tional Weather Service resources prior to oper-
ation; and 
(B) training for crew to respond to emer-
gency situations, including flooding, engine com-
partment fires, man-overboard situations, and in 
water emergency egress procedures. 
(d) CONSIDERATION.—In issuing the regulations re-
quired under subsection (a), the Commandant shall con-
sider whether personal flotation devices should be required 
for the duration of the waterborne transit of a DUKW-type 
amphibious passenger vessel. 
(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 compli-
ance with such regulations shall be subject to the following 
requirements: 
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(1) Remove the canopies and any window cov-
erings of such vessels for waterborne operations, or in-
stall 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 flota-
tion 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 powered 
electric bilge pumps that are capable of dewatering 
such vessels at the volume of the largest remaining 
penetration in order to supplement an operable Hig-
gins pump or a dewatering pump of equivalent or 
greater capacity. 
(5) Install in such vessels not fewer than 4 inde-
pendently 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. 
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(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 the following: 
‘‘Subchapter I—General Provisions’’; 
(2) by inserting the following before section 
30503: 
‘‘Subchapter II—Exoneration and Limitation 
of Liability’’; 
and 
(3) by redesignating sections 30503 through 
30512 as sections 30521 through 30530, respectively. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 30501 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘§ 30501. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) COVERED SMALL PASSENGER VESSEL.—The 
term ‘covered small passenger vessel’— 
‘‘(A) means a small passenger vessel, as de-
fined 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 constructed 
prior to March 11, 1996, carrying at least 1 pas-
senger for hire. 
‘‘(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 sec-
tion 30501 in the analysis for chapter 305 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘30501. Definitions.’’. 
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(d) APPLICABILITY.—Section 30502 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘as to covered small 
passenger vessels, and’’ before ‘‘as otherwise provided’’. 
(e) PROVISIONS REQUIRING NOTICE OF CLAIM OR LIM-
ITING TIME FOR BRINGING ACTION.—Section 30526 of title 
46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (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— 
(1) by inserting before section 30501 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS’’; 
(2) by inserting after section 30502 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY’’; 
and 
(3) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 30503 through 30512 as items relating to sec-
tions 30521 through 30530, respectively. 
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