I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 619 
To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only 
operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials re-
quirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alter-
ations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not 
constructed of fire-retardant materials and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 24, 2017 
Mr. CHABOT (for himself, Mr. CLAY, Mr. BLUM, Mr. SMITH of Missouri, Mr. 
WENSTRUP, Mr. SANFORD, Mr. RENACCI, Mr. COHEN, and Mr. JOHNSON 
of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels 
that only operate within inland waterways from the fire- 
retardant materials requirement if the owners of such 
vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 
10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not 
constructed of fire-retardant materials and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. FIRE-RETARDANT MATERIALS EXEMPTION. 
Section 3503 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3503. Fire-retardant materials 
‘‘(a)(1) A passenger vessel of the United States hav-
ing berth or stateroom accommodations for at least 50 
passengers shall be granted a certificate of inspection only 
if— 
‘‘(A) the vessel is constructed of fire-retardant 
materials; and 
‘‘(B) the vessel— 
‘‘(i) is operating engines, boilers, main 
electrical distribution panels, fuel tanks, oil 
tanks, and generators that meet current Coast 
Guard regulations; 
‘‘(ii) is operating boilers and main elec-
trical generators that are contained within non-
combustible enclosures equipped with fire sup-
pression systems; and 
‘‘(iii) has multiple forms of egress off the 
vessel’s bow and stern. 
‘‘(2) Before December 1, 2028, this section does not 
apply to any vessel in operation before January 1, 1968, 
and operating only within the Boundary Line. 
‘‘(b)(1) When a vessel is exempted from the fire-re-
tardant standards of subsection (a)— 
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‘‘(A) the owner or managing operator of the 
vessel shall— 
‘‘(i) notify in writing prospective pas-
sengers, prior to the sale of any ticket for 
boarding and to be affirmatively recognized by 
such passenger prior to purchase, and any crew 
member that the vessel does not comply with 
applicable fire safety standards due primarily to 
the wooden construction of passenger berthing 
areas; and 
‘‘(ii) display in clearly legible font promi-
nently throughout the vessel, including in each 
state room the following: ‘THIS VESSEL 
FAILS 
TO 
COMPLY 
WITH 
SAFETY 
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE U.S. 
COAST GUARD.’; 
‘‘(B) the owner or managing operator of the 
vessel— 
‘‘(i) may not disclaim liability to a pas-
senger or crew member for death, injury, or any 
other loss caused by fire due to the negligence 
of the owner or managing operator; and 
‘‘(ii) shall acquire prior to entering service, 
and maintain, liability insurance in an amount 
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to be prescribed by the Federal Maritime Com-
mission; 
‘‘(C) the penalties provided in section 3504(c) 
of this title apply to a violation of this subsection; 
‘‘(D) the owner or managing operator of the 
vessel shall— 
‘‘(i) make annual structural alteration to 
not less than 10 percent of the areas of the ves-
sel that are not constructed of fire retardant 
materials; 
‘‘(ii) prioritize alterations in galleys, engi-
neering areas of the vessel, including all spaces 
and compartments containing, or adjacent to 
spaces and compartments containing, engines, 
boilers, main electrical distribution panels, fuel 
tanks, oil tanks, and generators; 
‘‘(iii) ensure, to the satisfaction of the 
Coast Guard, that the combustible fire-load has 
been reduced pursuant to clause (i) during each 
annual inspection for certification; and 
‘‘(iv) provide advance notice to the Coast 
Guard regarding the structural alterations 
made pursuant to clause (i) and comply with 
any noncombustible material requirements pre-
scribed by the Coast Guard; 
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‘‘(E) the Coast Guard, in making the deter-
mination required in subparagraph (D)(iii), shall 
consider, to the extent practicable, the goal of pres-
ervation of the historic integrity of the vessel in 
areas carrying or accessible to passengers or gen-
erally visible to the public; 
‘‘(F) the owner or managing operator of the 
vessel shall annually notify all ports of call and State 
emergency management offices of jurisdiction that 
the vessel does not comply with applicable fire safety 
standards due primarily to the wooden construction 
of passenger berthing areas; 
‘‘(G) the crews manning such vessel shall re-
ceive specialized training, above minimum standards, 
in regards to shipboard firefighting that is special-
ized for exempted vessels and approved by the Coast 
Guard; and 
‘‘(H) the owner or managing operator of the 
vessel shall, to the extent practicable, take all steps 
to retain previously trained crew knowledgeable of 
such vessel or to hire crew trained in operations 
aboard exempted vessels. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall conduct an annual audit and 
inspection of any vessel exempted from the fire-retardant 
standards of subsection (a). 
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‘‘(c) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 
carry out this section. Such regulations shall include the 
manner in which prospective passengers are to be notified. 
‘‘(d) In addition to other penalties permitted by law, 
the Secretary is authorized to immediately withdraw a cer-
tificate of inspection for a passenger vessel that does not 
comply with any requirement under this section.’’. 
Æ 
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