(A) Federal regulations and policies that 
reduce the competitiveness of United States flag 
vessels in the international trade; and 
(B) the impact of reduced cargo flow due 
to reductions in the number of members of the 
United States Armed Forces stationed or de-
ployed outside of the United States; and 
(2) include recommendations to— 
(A) make United States flag vessels more 
competitive in shipping routes between United 
States and foreign ports; 
(B) increase the use of United States flag 
vessels to carry cargo imported to and exported 
from the United States; 
(C) assure compliance by Federal agencies 
with chapter 553 of title 46, United States 
Code; 
(D) increase the use of third-party inspec-
tion and certification authorities to inspect and 
certify vessels; 
(E) increase the use of short sea transpor-
tation routes designated under section 55601(c) 
of title 46, United States Code, to enhance 
intermodal freight movements; and 
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(F) enhance United States shipbuilding ca-
pability. 
SEC. 605. IMO POLAR CODE NEGOTIATIONS. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and thereafter with the submission of 
the budget proposal submitted for each of fiscal years 
2016, 2017, and 2018 under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code, 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 Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 
on— 
(1) the status of the negotiations at the Inter-
national Maritime Organization regarding the estab-
lishment of a draft international code of safety for 
ships operating in polar waters, popularly known as 
the Polar Code, and any amendments proposed by 
such a code to be made to the International Conven-
tion for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Inter-
national Convention for the Prevention of Pollution 
from Ships; 
(2) the coming into effect of such a code and 
such amendments for nations that are parties to 
those conventions; 
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(3) impacts, for coastal communities located in 
the Arctic (as that term is defined in the section 112 
of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 
U.S.C. 4111)) of such a code or such amendments, 
on— 
(A) the costs of delivering fuel and freight; 
and 
(B) the safety of maritime transportation; 
and 
(4) actions the Secretary must take to imple-
ment the requirements of such a code and such 
amendments. 
SEC. 606. VALLEY VIEW FERRY. 
(a) EXEMPTION.—Section 8902 of title 46, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the vessel John Craig 
(United States official number D1110613) when such ves-
sel is operating on the portion of the Kentucky River, Ken-
tucky, located at approximately mile point 158, in Pool 
Number 9, between Lock and Dam Number 9 and Lock 
and Dam Number 10. 
(b) APPLICATION.—Subsection (a) shall apply on and 
after the date on which the Secretary determines that a 
licensing requirement has been established under Ken-
tucky State law that applies to an operator of the vessel 
John Craig. 
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SEC. 607. COMPETITION BY UNITED STATES FLAG VESSELS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct an assessment of authori-
ties under subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, that 
have been delegated to the Coast Guard that impact the 
ability of vessels documented under the laws of the United 
States to effectively compete in the carriage of merchan-
dise and passengers in the international trade. 
(b) REVIEW OF DIFFERENCES WITH IMO STAND-
ARDS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall include 
a review of differences between United States laws, poli-
cies, regulations, and guidance governing the inspection 
of vessels documented under the laws of the United States 
and standards set by the International Maritime Organi-
zation governing the inspection of vessels. 
(c) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the Commandant enters into an arrange-
ment with the National Academy of Sciences under sub-
section (a), the Commandant shall submit the assessment 
required under such subsection to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
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SEC. 608. SURVEY. 
Not later than 30 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 survey of the parcel of real property under the 
administrative control of the Coast Guard, consisting of 
approximately 1.95 acres (measured at the mean low- 
water mark) located at the entrance to Gig Harbor, Wash-
ington, and commonly known as the Gig Harbor Sand Spit 
Area. 
Æ 
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