‘‘(2) the vessel is less than 50 feet overall in 
length; and 
‘‘(3) the vessel is built after January 1, 2008. 
‘‘(i)(1) The Secretary shall establish a Fishing Safety 
Training Grants Program to provide funding to munici-
palities, port authorities, other appropriate public entities, 
not-for-profit organizations, and other qualified persons 
that provide commercial fishing safety training— 
‘‘(A) to conduct fishing vessel safety training 
that meets the requirements of subsection (g); and 
‘‘(B) for purchase of safety equipment and 
training aids for use in those fishing vessel safety 
training programs. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall award grants under this 
subsection on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) The Federal share of the cost of any activity 
carried out with a grant under this subsection shall not 
exceed 75 percent. 
‘‘(4) There is authorized to be appropriated 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 
for grants under this subsection. 
‘‘(j)(1) The Secretary shall establish a Fishing Safety 
Research Grant Program to provide funding to individuals 
in academia, members of non-profit organizations and 
businesses involved in fishing and maritime matters, and 
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other persons with expertise in fishing safety, to conduct 
research on methods of improving the safety of the com-
mercial fishing industry, including vessel design, emer-
gency and survival equipment, enhancement of vessel mon-
itoring systems, communications devices, de-icing tech-
nology, and severe weather detection. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall award grants under this 
subsection on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) The Federal share of the cost of any activity 
carried out with a grant under this subsection shall not 
exceed 75 percent.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4506(b) of 
title 46, United States Code, is repealed. 
(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) CHANGE OF NAME.—Section 4508 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the section heading and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘§ 4508. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Com-
mittee’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Industry 
Vessel’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tion at the beginning of chapter 45 of title 46, 
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United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
relating to such section and inserting the following: 
‘‘4508. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee.’’. 
(d) LOADLINES FOR VESSELS OVER 79 FEET.—Sec-
tion 5102(b)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting after ‘‘vessel’’ the following ‘‘, unless the 
vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion completed 
after January 1, 2008’’. 
(e) CLASSING OF VESSELS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 4503 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the section heading and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘§ 4503. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing ves-
sel certification’’; 
(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘fishing 
processing’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) This section applies to a vessel to which 4502(b) 
this title applies that— 
‘‘(1) is at least 50 feet overall in length; 
‘‘(2) is built after January 1, 2008; or 
‘‘(3) undergoes a major conversion completed 
after that date. 
‘‘(d) After January 1, 2018, this section applies to 
a fishing vessel or fish tender vessel that is built before 
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January 1, 2008, and is 25 years of age or older, unless 
the vessel complies with an alternate safety compliance 
program prescribed by the Secretary.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tion at the beginning of chapter 45 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
relating to such section and inserting the following: 
‘‘4503. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing vessel certification.’’. 
SEC. 308. MARINER RECORDS. 
Section 7502 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘The’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘computerized records’’ and in-
serting ‘‘records, including electronic records,’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) The Secretary may prescribe regulations requir-
ing a vessel owner or managing operator of a commercial 
vessel, or the employer of a seaman on that vessel, to 
maintain records of each individual engaged on the vessel 
on matters of engagement, discharge, and service for not 
less than 5 years after the date of the completion of the 
service of that individual on the vessel. The regulations 
may require that a vessel owner, managing operator, or 
employer shall make these records available to the indi-
vidual and the Coast Guard on request. 
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‘‘(c) A person violating this section, or a regulation 
prescribed under this section, is liable to the United States 
Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.’’. 
SEC. 309. DELETION OF EXEMPTION OF LICENSE REQUIRE-
MENT FOR OPERATORS OF CERTAIN TOWING 
VESSELS. 
Section 8905 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 310. ADJUSTMENT OF LIABILITY LIMITS FOR NAT-
URAL GAS DEEPWATER PORTS. 
Section 1004(d)(2) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(33 U.S.C. 2704(d)(2)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(D) The Secretary may establish, by reg-
ulation, a limit of liability of not less than 
$12,000,000 for a deepwater port used only in 
connection with transportation of natural gas.’’. 
SEC. 311. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST 
OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND. 
Section 1012(h)(1) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(33 U.S.C. 2712(h)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘6’’ and 
inserting ‘‘3’’. 
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SEC. 312. LOG BOOKS. 
Section 11301 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or’’ after the 
semicolon at the end of paragraph (1), by striking 
the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting 
‘‘; or’’, and by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) subject to inspection under section 3301 of 
this title.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(13) the time when each seaman and each of-
ficer assumed or relieved the watch. 
‘‘(14) the number of hours in service to the ves-
sel of each seaman and each officer. 
‘‘(15) all entries required by Federal regula-
tion.’’; and 
(3) by amending subsection (b)(5) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(5) an account of each accident, illness, or in-
jury that occurred during the watch.’’. 
SEC. 313. UNSAFE OPERATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
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‘‘§ 2116. Termination for unsafe operation 
‘‘An individual authorized to enforce this title— 
‘‘(1) may remove a certificate required by this 
title from a vessel that is operating in a condition 
that does not comply with the provisions of the cer-
tificate; 
‘‘(2) may order the individual in charge of a 
vessel that is operating that does not have on board 
the certificate required by this title to return the 
vessel to a mooring and to remain there until the 
vessel is in compliance with this title; and 
‘‘(3) may direct the individual in charge of a 
vessel to which this title applies to immediately take 
reasonable steps necessary for the safety of individ-
uals on board the vessel if the official observes the 
vessel being operated in an unsafe condition that the 
official believes creates an especially hazardous con-
dition, including ordering the individual in charge to 
return the vessel to a mooring and to remain there 
until the situation creating the hazard is corrected 
or ended.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of that title is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘2116. Termination for unsafe operation.’’. 
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SEC. 314. APPROVAL OF SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Sec-
retary may not approve a survival craft as a safety device 
for purposes of this part, unless the craft ensures that 
no part of an individual is immersed in water. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary may authorize a survival craft 
that does not provide protection described in subsection 
(a) to remain in service until not later than January 1, 
2013, if— 
‘‘(1) it was approved by the Secretary before 
January 1, 2008; and 
‘‘(2) it is in serviceable condition.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of that title is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘3104. Survival craft.’’. 
SEC. 315. SAFETY MANAGEMENT. 
(a) VESSELS TO WHICH REQUIREMENTS APPLY.— 
Section 3202 of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
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(1) in subsection (a) by striking the heading 
and inserting ‘‘FOREIGN VOYAGES
AND FOREIGN 
VESSELS.—’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) OTHER PASSENGER VESSELS.—This chapter 
applies to a vessel that is— 
‘‘(1) a passenger vessel or small passenger ves-
sel; and 
‘‘(2) is transporting more passengers than a 
number prescribed by the Secretary based on the 
number of individuals on the vessel that could be 
killed or injured in a marine casualty.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(c)’’; 
(5) in subsection (d)(4), as so redesignated, by 
inserting ‘‘that is not described in subsection (b) of 
this section’’ after ‘‘waters’’. 
(b) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.—Section 3203 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
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‘‘(c) In prescribing regulations for passenger vessels 
and small passenger vessels, the Secretary shall consider 
the characteristics, methods of operation, and nature of 
the service of these vessels.’’. 
SEC. 316. PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2114 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(2) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (a)(1) 
the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) the seaman testified in a proceeding 
brought to enforce a maritime safety law or regula-
tion prescribed under that law; 
‘‘(D) the seaman notified, or attempted to no-
tify, the vessel owner or the Secretary of a work-re-
lated personal injury or work-related illness of a sea-
man; 
‘‘(E) the seaman cooperated with a safety in-
vestigation by the Secretary or the National Trans-
portation Safety Board; 
‘‘(F) the seaman furnished information to the 
Secretary, the National Transportation Safety 
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Board, or any other public official as to the facts re-
lating to any marine casualty resulting in injury or 
death to an individual or damage to property occur-
ring in connection with vessel transportation; or 
‘‘(7) the seaman accurately reported hours of 
duty under this part.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) A seaman alleging discharge or discrimination 
in violation of subsection (a) of this section, or another 
person at the seaman’s request, may file a complaint with 
respect to such allegation in the same manner as a com-
plaint may be filed under subsection (b) of section 31105 
of title 49. Such complaint shall be subject to the proce-
dures, requirements, and rights described in that section, 
including with respect to the right to file an objection, the 
right of a person to file for a petition for review under 
subsection (c) of that section, and the requirement to 
bring a civil action under subsection (d) of that section.’’. 
(b) EXISTING ACTIONS.—This section shall not affect 
the application of section 2114(b) of title 46, United 
States Code, as in effect before the date of enactment of 
this Act, to an action filed under that section before that 
date. 
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SEC. 317. DRY BULK CARGO RESIDUE. 
Section 623(a)(2) of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 1901 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2008’’ and inserting ‘‘2009’’. 
SEC. 318. CLARIFICATION OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES. 
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘or for a 
floating installation’’ after ‘‘chapter 121 of this 
title’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘or for 
floating installations,’’ after ‘‘vessels documented in 
that country’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by inserting ‘‘or 
floating installation’’ after ‘‘after the vessel’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) For purposes of this section, the term ‘floating 
installation’ means any installation, structure, or other de-
vice that floats and that either dynamically holds position 
or is temporarily or permanently attached to the seabed 
or subsoil under the territorial sea of the United States 
or the outer Continental Shelf (as that term is defined 
in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1331)), and is used for the purpose of exploring 
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for, developing, producing, or storing the resources from 
that seabed or subsoil.’’. 
SEC. 319. REGISTRY ENDORSEMENT FOR LNG VESSELS. 
Section 12111 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) A vessel or facility for which a registry endorse-
ment is not issued may not engage in regassifying on navi-
gable waters unless the vessel or facility transported the 
gas from a foreign port.’’. 
SEC. 320. OATHS. 
Sections 7105 and 7305 of title 46, United States 
Code, and the items relating to such sections in the anal-
ysis for chapters 71 and 73 of such title, are repealed. 
SEC. 321. DURATION OF CREDENTIALS. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER’S DOCUMENTS.—Section 
7302(f) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(f) PERIODS OF VALIDITY AND RENEWAL OF MER-
CHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (g), a merchant mariner’s document issued 
under this chapter is valid for a 5-year period and 
may be renewed for additional 5-year periods. 
‘‘(2) ADVANCE
RENEWALS.—A renewed mer-
chant mariner’s document may be issued under this 
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chapter up to 8 months in advance but is not effec-
tive until the date that the previously issued mer-
chant mariner’s document expires.’’. 
(b) DURATION OF LICENSES.—Section 7106 of such 
title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 7106. Duration of licenses 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A license issued under this part 
is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for addi-
tional 5-year periods; except that the validity of a license 
issued to a radio officer is conditioned on the continuous 
possession by the holder of a first-class or second-class ra-
diotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Com-
munications Commission. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE
RENEWALS.—A renewed license 
issued under this part may be issued up to 8 months in 
advance but is not effective until the date that the pre-
viously issued license expires.’’. 
(c) CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY.—Section 7107 of 
such title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 7107. Duration of certificates of registry 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A certificate of registry issued 
under this part is valid for a 5-year period and may be 
renewed for additional 5-year periods; except that the va-
lidity of a certificate issued to a medical doctor or profes-
sional nurse is conditioned on the continuous possession 
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by the holder of a license as a medical doctor or registered 
nurse, respectively, issued by a State. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE RENEWALS.—A renewed certificate of 
registry issued under this part may be issued up to 8 
months in advance but is not effective until the date that 
the previously issued certificate of registry expires.’’. 
SEC. 322. FINGERPRINTING. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES
AND DOCU-
MENTS.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 7507. Fingerprinting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may not re-
quire an individual to be fingerprinted for the issuance 
or renewal of a license, a certificate of registry, or a mer-
chant mariner’s document under chapter 71 or 73 if the 
individual was fingerprinted when the individual applied 
for a transportation security card under section 70105.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7507. Fingerprinting.’’. 
SEC. 323. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF 
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND 
MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES
AND DOCU-
MENTS.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, as 
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amended by section 5(a) of this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 7508. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, 
certificates of registry, and merchant 
mariner documents 
‘‘(a) LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY.— 
Notwithstanding section 7106 and 7107, the Secretary of 
the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
may extend for one year an expiring license or certificate 
of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if 
the Secretary determines that extension is required to en-
able the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing 
applications for those licenses or certificates of registry. 
‘‘(b) MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS.—Notwith-
standing section 7302(g), the Secretary may extend for 
one year an expiring merchant mariner’s document issued 
for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary deter-
mines that extension is required to enable the Coast Guard 
to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for those 
documents. 
‘‘(c) MANNER
OF
EXTENSION.—Any extensions 
granted under this section may be granted to individual 
seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen. 
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‘‘(d) EXPIRATION
OF AUTHORITY.—The authority 
for providing an extension under this section shall expire 
on June 30, 2009.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter, as amended by section 5(b), is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7508. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and 
merchant mariner documents.’’. 
SEC. 324. MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTATION. 
(a) INTERIM CLEARANCE PROCESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall develop an interim clearance process for 
issuance of a merchant mariner document to enable a 
newly hired seaman to begin working on an offshore sup-
ply vessel or towing vessel if the Secretary makes an initial 
determination that the seaman does not pose a safety and 
security risk. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF PROCESS.—The process under 
subsection (a) shall include a check against the consoli-
dated and integrated terrorist watch list maintained by the 
Federal Government, review of the seaman’s criminal 
record, and review of the results of testing the seaman 
for use of a dangerous drug (as defined in section 2101 
of title 46, United States Code) in violation of law or Fed-
eral regulation. 
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SEC. 325. MERCHANT MARINER ASSISTANCE REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days 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 regarding a plan— 
(1) to expand the streamlined evaluation proc-
ess program that was affiliated with the Houston 
Regional Examination Center of the Coast Guard to 
all processing centers of the Coast Guard nation-
wide; 
(2) to include proposals to simplify the applica-
tion process for a license as an officer, staff officer, 
or operator and for a merchant mariner’s document 
to help eliminate errors by merchant mariners when 
completing the application form (CG–719B), includ-
ing instructions attached to the application form and 
a modified application form for renewals with ques-
tions pertaining only to the period of time since the 
previous application; 
(3) to provide notice to an applicant of the sta-
tus of the pending application, including a process to 
allow the applicant to check on the status of the ap-
plication by electronic means; and 
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(4) to ensure that all information collected with 
respect to applications for new or renewed licenses, 
merchant mariner documents, and certificates of 
registry is retained in a secure electronic format. 
SEC. 326. MERCHANT MARINER SHORTAGE REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Administrator of the Maritime Administra-
tion, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report concerning methods to address the 
current and future shortage in the number of merchant 
mariners, particularly entry-level mariners, including an 
evaluation of whether an educational loan program pro-
viding loans for the cost of on-the-job training would pro-
vide an incentive for workers and help alleviate the short-
age. 
SEC. 327. MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENT STANDARDS. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
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(1) a plan to ensure that the process for an ap-
plication, by an individual who has, or has applied 
for, a transportation security card under section 
70105 of title 46, United States Code, for a mer-
chant mariner document can be completed entirely 
by mail; and 
(2) a report on the feasibility of, and a timeline 
to, redesign the merchant mariner document to com-
ply with the requirements of such section, including 
a biometric identifier, and all relevant international 
conventions, including the International Labour Or-
ganization Convention Number 185 concerning the 
seafarers identity document, and include a review on 
whether or not such redesign will eliminate the need 
for separate credentials and background screening 
and streamline the application process for mariners. 
SEC. 328. WATERSIDE SECURITY AROUND LIQUEFIED NAT-
URAL GAS TERMINALS AND LIQUEFIED NAT-
URAL GAS TANKERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall be responsible for providing waterside security 
services around liquefied natural gas terminals and around 
tankers transporting liquefied natural gas in security 
zones established by the Coast Guard. 
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(b) LIMITATION ON RELIANCE ON STATE AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT.—Security arrangements approved as part 
of the facility security plan approved under section 70103 
of title 46, United States Code, for an onshore liquefied 
natural gas terminal may not be based upon the provision 
of security by a State or local government. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY ZONES.—Security 
zones established by the Coast Guard around tankers 
transporting liquefied natural gas shall be enforced by the 
Coast Guard. 
(d) PROVISION OF ASSETS BY OPERATORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of their facility se-
curity plans, the operators of liquefied natural gas 
terminals shall provide assets that can be used by 
the Coast Guard to provide waterside patrols in the 
areas around liquefied natural gas terminals and 
around tankers transporting liquefied natural gas in 
security zones established by the Coast Guard. The 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may not approve a facility secu-
rity plan under section 70103 of title 46, United 
States Code, until those assets have been provided to 
the Secretary. 
(2) AVAILABILITY
TO
COAST
GUARD.—Those 
assets shall be available to the Coast Guard for use 
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in the same Coast Guard sector as the sector in 
which the terminal that provided the assets is lo-
cated when use of the asset is not required to pro-
vide security around the terminal. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 401. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR GALLANT 
LADY. 
Section 1120(c) of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 3977) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of Transportation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating’’; and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) 
the 
vessel 
GALLANT 
LADY 
(Feadship hull number 672, approximately 168 
feet in length).’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and re-
designating paragraph (5) as paragraph (3); and 
(3) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) by 
striking all after ‘‘shall expire’’ and inserting ‘‘on 
the date of the sale of the vessel by the owner.’’. 
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SEC. 402. WAIVER. 
Notwithstanding section 12112 and chapter 551 of 
title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue 
a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorse-
ment for the OCEAN VERITAS (IMO Number 
7366805). 
SEC. 403. GREAT LAKES MARITIME RESEARCH INSTITUTE. 
Section 605 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 1052) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall conduct a study that’’ and in-
serting ‘‘The Institute shall conduct maritime 
transportation studies of the Great Lakes re-
gion, including studies that’’; 
(B) in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (E), 
(F), (H), (I), and (J) by striking ‘‘evaluates’’ 
and inserting ‘‘evaluate’’; 
(C) in subparagraphs (D) and (G) by 
striking ‘‘analyzes’’ and inserting ‘‘analyze’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (I); 
(E) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (J) and inserting a semicolon; 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(K) identify ways to improve the integra-
tion of the Great Lakes marine transportation 
system into the national transportation system; 
‘‘(L) examine the potential of expanded op-
erations on the Great Lakes marine transpor-
tation system; 
‘‘(M) identify ways to include intelligent 
transportation applications into the Great 
Lakes marine transportation system; 
‘‘(N) analyze the effects and impacts of 
aging infrastructure and port corrosion on the 
Great Lakes marine transportation system; 
‘‘(O) establish and maintain a model Great 
Lakes marine transportation system database; 
and 
‘‘(P) identify market opportunities for, and 
impediments to, the use of United States-flag 
vessels in trade with Canada on the Great 
Lakes.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b)(4) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2007; 
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‘‘(B) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(C) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(D) $2,400,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 
‘‘(E) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.’’. 
SEC. 404. CONVEYANCE. 
(a) STATION BRANT POINT BOAT HOUSE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall convey to the town of Nantucket, Massachu-
setts, all right, title, and interest of the United 
States in and to the buildings known as the Station 
Brant Point Boat House located at Coast Guard 
Station Brant Point, Nantucket, Massachusetts, for 
use for a public purpose. 
(2) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.—A conveyance of 
the building under paragraph (1) shall be made— 
(A) without the payment of consideration; 
and 
(B) subject to appropriate terms and con-
ditions the Secretary considers necessary. 
(3) REVERSIONARY INTEREST.—All right, title, 
and interest in property conveyed under this sub-
section shall revert to the United States if any por-
tion of the property is used other than for a public 
purpose. 
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(b) LEASE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall enter into a lease with the town of Nantucket 
that authorizes the town of Nantucket to occupy the 
land on which the buildings conveyed under sub-
section (a) are located, subject to appropriate terms 
and conditions the Secretary considers necessary. 
(2) LEASE
TERM.—A lease under this sub-
section shall not expire before January 31, 2033. 
(3) TERMINATION OF LEASE.—If the Secretary 
determines that the property leased under paragraph 
(1) is necessary for purposes of the Coast Guard, 
the Secretary— 
(A) may terminate the lease without pay-
ment of compensation; and 
(B) shall provide the town of Nantucket 
not less than 12 months notice of the require-
ment to vacate the site and move the buildings 
conveyed under subsection (a) to another loca-
tion. 
SEC. 405. CREW WAGES ON PASSENGER VESSELS. 
(a) FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES.— 
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(1) 
CAP
ON
PENALTY
WAGES.—Section 
10313(g) of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking ‘‘When’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
Subject to paragraph (2), when’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The total amount required to be paid under 
paragraph (1) with respect to all claims in a class action 
suit by seamen on a passenger vessel capable of carrying 
more than 500 passengers for wages under this section 
against a vessel master, owner, or operator or the em-
ployer of the seamen shall not exceed ten times the unpaid 
wages that are the subject of the claims. 
‘‘(3) A class action suit for wages under this sub-
section must be commenced within three years after the 
later of— 
‘‘(A) the date of the end of the last voyage for 
which the wages are claimed; or 
‘‘(B) the receipt, by a seaman who is a claimant 
in the suit, of a payment of wages that are the sub-
ject of the suit that is made in the ordinary course 
of employment.’’. 
(2) DEPOSITS.—Section 10315 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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