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include regulations governing the acceptance of in- 
kind reimbursements; and 
(2) notifies the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives of the amendments 
made under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 312. PROMPT INTERGOVERNMENTAL NOTICE OF MA-
RINE CASUALTIES. 
Section 6101 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) NOTICE
TO STATE
AND TRIBAL GOVERN-
MENTS.—Not later than 24 hours after receiving a notice 
of a major marine casualty under this section, the Sec-
retary shall notify each State or federally recognized In-
dian tribe that is, or may reasonably be expected to be, 
affected by such marine casualty.’’; 
(2) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (h)(2) as 
subsection (i) of section 6101, and in such sub-
section— 
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(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section,’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (D) as paragraphs (1) 
through (4); and 
(3) by redesignating the last subsection as sub-
section (j). 
SEC. 313. AREA CONTINGENCY PLANS. 
Section 311(j)(4) of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘qualified 
personnel of Federal, State, and local agencies.’’ and 
inserting ‘‘qualified— 
‘‘(i) personnel of Federal, State, and local 
agencies; and 
‘‘(ii) members of federally recognized In-
dian tribes, where applicable.’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and local’’ and inserting 
‘‘, local, and tribal’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘wildlife;’’ and inserting 
‘‘wildlife, including advance planning with re-
spect to the closing and reopening of fishing 
areas following a discharge;’’; 
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(3) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ‘‘and 
local’’ and inserting ‘‘, local, and tribal’’; and 
(4) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and Fed-
eral, State, and local agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
Federal, State, and local agencies, and tribal 
governments’’; 
(B) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) 
as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and 
(C) by inserting after clause (vi) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(vii) include a framework for advance 
planning and decisionmaking with respect to 
the closing and reopening of fishing areas fol-
lowing a discharge, including protocols and 
standards for the closing and reopening of fish-
ing areas;’’. 
SEC. 314. INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 803 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 80301, by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS.—Payments received pursuant to 
subsection (b)(1) shall be credited to the appropriation for 
operating expenses of the Coast Guard.’’; 
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(2) in section 80302— 
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘An ice 
patrol vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice patrol’’; 
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘An 
ice patrol vessel’’ and inserting ‘‘The ice pa-
trol’’; and 
(C) in the first sentence of subsection (d), 
by striking ‘‘vessels’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 80304. Limitation on ice patrol data 
‘‘Notwithstanding sections 80301 and 80302, data 
collected by an ice patrol conducted by the Coast Guard 
under this chapter may not be disseminated to a vessel 
unless such vessel is— 
‘‘(1) documented under the laws of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(2) documented under the laws of a foreign 
country that made the payment or contribution re-
quired under section 80301(b) for the year pre-
ceding the year in which the data is collected.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘80304. Limitation on ice patrol data.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on January 1, 2017. 
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SEC. 315. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL THIRD-PARTY IN-
SPECTION. 
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g), 
and by inserting after subsection (e) the following: 
‘‘(f)(1) Upon request of an owner or operator of an 
offshore supply vessel, the Secretary shall delegate the au-
thorities set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) with 
respect to such vessel to a classification society to which 
a delegation is authorized under that paragraph. A delega-
tion by the Secretary under this subsection shall be used 
for any vessel inspection and examination function carried 
out by the Secretary, including the issuance of certificates 
of inspection and all other related documents. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary determines that a certificate of 
inspection or related document issued under authority del-
egated under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect 
to a vessel has reduced the operational safety of that ves-
sel, the Secretary may terminate the certificate or docu-
ment, respectively. 
‘‘(3) Not later than 2 years after the date of the en-
actment of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014, and for each year of the sub-
sequent 2-year period, the Secretary shall provide to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
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merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
describing— 
‘‘(A) the number of vessels for which a delega-
tion was made under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) any savings in personnel and operational 
costs incurred by the Coast Guard that resulted 
from the delegations; and 
‘‘(C) based on measurable marine casualty and 
other data, any impacts of the delegations on the 
operational safety of vessels for which the delega-
tions were made, and on the crew on those vessels.’’. 
SEC. 316. WATCHES. 
Section 8104 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘coal passers, 
firemen, oilers, and water tenders’’ and inserting 
‘‘and oilers’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘(except 
the coal passers, firemen, oilers, and water 
tenders)’’. 
SEC. 317. COAST GUARD RESPONSE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) VESSEL RESPONSE PLAN CONTENTS.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall require that each vessel response plan pre-
pared for a mobile offshore drilling unit includes informa-
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tion from the facility response plan prepared for the mo-
bile offshore drilling unit regarding the planned response 
to a worst case discharge, and to a threat of such a dis-
charge. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNIT.—The 
term ‘‘mobile offshore drilling unit’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701). 
(2) RESPONSE
PLAN.—The term ‘‘response 
plan’’ means a response plan prepared under section 
311(j) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). 
(3) WORST
CASE
DISCHARGE.—The term 
‘‘worst case discharge’’ has the meaning given that 
term under section 311(a) of the Federal Water Pol-
lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to require the Coast Guard to re-
view or approve a facility response plan for a mobile off-
shore drilling unit. 
SEC. 318. REGIONAL CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
Section 5002(k)(3) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 
(33 U.S.C. 2732(k)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘not more 
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than 
$1,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘not 
less 
than 
$1,400,000’’. 
SEC. 319. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE 
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4105 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b)(1) In applying this title with respect to an 
uninspected vessel of less than 24 meters overall in length 
that carries passengers to or from a port in the United 
States Virgin Islands, the Secretary shall substitute ‘12 
passengers’ for ‘6 passengers’ each place it appears in sec-
tion 2101(42) if the Secretary determines that the vessel 
complies with, as applicable to the vessel— 
‘‘(A) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘Yellow Code’), as published by 
the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency and 
in effect on January 1, 2014; or 
‘‘(B) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly 
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referred to as the ‘Blue Code’), as published by 
such agency and in effect on such date. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary establishes standards to 
carry out this subsection— 
‘‘(A) such standards shall be identical to 
those established in the Codes of Practice re-
ferred to in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) on any dates before the date on 
which such standards are in effect, the Codes of 
Practice referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
apply with respect to the vessels referred to in 
paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 4105(c) of 
title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection 
(a)(1) of this section, is amended by striking ‘‘Within 
twenty-four months of the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
SEC. 320. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 111 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers 
‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury a separate account to be known as the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED
USES.—Amounts in the 
Fund may be appropriated to the Secretary for 
use— 
‘‘(A) to pay necessary support of a sea-
farer— 
‘‘(i) who— 
‘‘(I) was paroled into the United 
States under section 212(d)(5) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)), or for whom the 
Secretary has requested parole under 
such section; and 
‘‘(II) is involved in an investiga-
tion, reporting, documentation, or ad-
judication of any matter that is re-
lated to the administration or enforce-
ment of law by the Coast Guard; or 
‘‘(ii) who— 
‘‘(I) is physically present in the 
United States; 
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‘‘(II) the Secretary determines 
was abandoned in the United States; 
and 
‘‘(III) has not applied for asylum 
under the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); and 
‘‘(B) to reimburse a vessel owner or oper-
ator for the costs of necessary support of a sea-
farer who has been paroled into the United 
States to facilitate an investigation, reporting, 
documentation, or adjudication of any matter 
that is related to the administration or enforce-
ment of law by the Coast Guard, if— 
‘‘(i) the vessel owner or operator is 
not convicted of a criminal offense related 
to such matter; or 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that re-
imbursement is appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), there shall be credited to the 
Fund the following: 
‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund 
under section 9 of the Act to Prevent Pol-
lution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908). 
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‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recov-
ered under subsection (c). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be cred-
ited to the Fund under subparagraph (A) only 
if the unobligated balance of the Fund is less 
than $5,000,000. 
‘‘(4) REPORT
REQUIRED.—On the date on 
which the President submits each budget for a fiscal 
year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report that de-
scribes— 
‘‘(A) the amounts credited to the Fund 
under paragraph (2) for the preceding fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(B) amounts in the Fund that were ex-
pended for the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed— 
‘‘(1) to create a private right of action or any 
other right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary sup-
port for any person; or 
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‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reim-
burse the cost of necessary support. 
‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT; RECOVERY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A vessel owner or operator 
shall reimburse the Fund an amount equal to the 
total amount paid from the Fund for necessary sup-
port of a seafarer, if— 
‘‘(A) the vessel owner or operator— 
‘‘(i) during the course of an investiga-
tion, reporting, documentation, or adju-
dication of any matter under this Act that 
the Coast Guard referred to a United 
States attorney or the Attorney General, 
fails to provide necessary support of a sea-
farer who was paroled into the United 
States to facilitate the investigation, re-
porting, documentation, or adjudication; 
and 
‘‘(ii) subsequently is— 
‘‘(I) convicted of a criminal of-
fense related to such matter; or 
‘‘(II) required to reimburse the 
Fund pursuant to a court order or ne-
gotiated settlement related to such 
matter; or 
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‘‘(B) the vessel owner or operator aban-
dons a seafarer in the United States, as deter-
mined by the Secretary based on substantial 
evidence. 
‘‘(2) ENFORCEMENT.—If a vessel owner or op-
erator fails to reimburse the Fund under paragraph 
(1) within 60 days after receiving a written, itemized 
description of reimbursable expenses and a demand 
for payment, the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on 
which the seafarer served in the Federal district 
court for the district in which the vessel is 
found; and 
‘‘(B) withhold or revoke the clearance re-
quired under section 60105 for the vessel and 
any other vessel operated by the same operator 
(as that term is defined in section 2(9)(a) of 
the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 
U.S.C. 1901(9)(a)) as the vessel on which the 
seafarer served. 
‘‘(3) OBTAINING
CLEARANCE.—A vessel may 
obtain clearance from the Secretary after it is with-
held or revoked under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel 
owner or operator— 
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‘‘(A) reimburses the Fund the amount re-
quired under paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) provides a bond, or other evidence of 
financial responsibility, sufficient to meet the 
amount required to be reimbursed under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary 
shall notify the vessel at least 72 hours before taking 
any action under paragraph (2)(B). 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ABANDONS; ABANDONED.—Each of the 
terms ‘abandons’ and ‘abandoned’ means— 
‘‘(A) a vessel owner’s or operator’s unilat-
eral severance of ties with a seafarer; or 
‘‘(B) a vessel owner’s or operator’s failure 
to provide necessary support of a seafarer. 
‘‘(2) FUND.—The term ‘Fund’ means the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under this 
section. 
‘‘(3) NECESSARY
SUPPORT.—The term ‘nec-
essary support’ means normal wages and expenses 
the Secretary considers reasonable for lodging, sub-
sistence, clothing, medical care (including hos-
pitalization), repatriation, and any other support the 
Secretary considers to be appropriate. 
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‘‘(4) SEAFARER.—The term ‘seafarer’ means an 
alien crew member who is employed or engaged in 
any capacity on board a vessel subject to the juris-
diction of the United States. 
‘‘(5) VESSEL SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION 
OF THE UNITED STATES.—The term ‘vessel subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 70502(c), except 
that it does not include a vessel that is— 
‘‘(A) owned, or operated under a bareboat 
charter, by the United States, a State or polit-
ical subdivision thereof, or a foreign nation; and 
‘‘(B) not engaged in commerce.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘11113. Treatment of abandoned seafarers.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the 
Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1908) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) Any penalty collected under subsection (a) or (b) 
that is not paid under that subsection to the person giving 
information leading to the conviction or assessment of 
such penalties shall be deposited in the Abandoned Sea-
farers Fund established under section 11113 of title 46, 
United States Code.’’. 
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SEC. 321. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) Each department or agency that has re-
sponsibility for a program under this section shall 
administer that program consistent with this section 
and any regulations and guidance issued by the Sec-
retary of Transportation concerning this section.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3), and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2)(A) The Secretary shall have exclusive au-
thority for determining the applicability of this sec-
tion to a program of a Federal department or agen-
cy. 
‘‘(B) The head of a Federal department or 
agency shall request the Secretary to determine the 
applicability of this section to a program of such de-
partment or agency if the department or agency is 
uncertain of such applicability. Not later than 30 
days after receiving such a request, the Secretary 
shall make such determination. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall not be construed 
to limit the authority of the Secretary to make a de-
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termination regarding the applicability of this sec-
tion to a program administered by a Federal depart-
ment or agency. 
‘‘(D) A determination made by the Secretary 
under this paragraph regarding a program shall re-
main in effect until the Secretary determines that 
this section no longer applies to such program.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) shall conduct an annual review of the 
administration of programs subject to the re-
quirements of this section to determine compli-
ance with the requirements of this section;’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) On the date on which the President sub-
mits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31, the Secretary shall make available on the 
Internet website of the Department of Transpor-
tation a report that— 
‘‘(A) lists the programs that were subject 
to determinations made by the Secretary under 
paragraph (2) in the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) describes the results of the most re-
cent annual review required by paragraph 
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(3)(A), including identification of the depart-
ments and agencies that transported cargo in 
violation of this section and any action the Sec-
retary took under paragraph (3) with respect to 
each violation.’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR FIRST REVIEW.—The Secretary 
of Transportation shall complete the first review required 
under the amendment made by subsection (a)(1)(C) by 
not later than December 31, 2015. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3511(c) of 
the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2009 (46 U.S.C. 55305 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 322. COAST GUARD REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall 
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives an analysis of the Coast Guard’s proposed 
promulgation of safety and environmental management 
system requirements for vessels engaged in Outer Conti-
nental Shelf activities. The analysis shall include— 
(1) a discussion of any new operational, man-
agement, design and construction, financial, and 
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other mandates that would be imposed on vessel 
owners and operators; 
(2) an estimate of all associated direct and indi-
rect operational, management, personnel, training, 
vessel design and construction, record keeping, and 
other costs; 
(3) an identification and justification of any of 
such proposed requirements that exceed those in 
international conventions applicable to the design, 
construction, operation, and management of vessels 
engaging in United States Outer Continental Shelf 
activities; and 
(4) an identification of exemptions to the pro-
posed requirements, that are based upon vessel clas-
sification, tonnage, offshore activity or function, al-
ternative certifications, or any other appropriate cri-
teria. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not issue pro-
posed regulations relating to safety and environmental 
management system requirements for vessels on the 
United States Outer Continental Shelf for which noticed 
was published on September 10, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 
55230) earlier than 6 months after the submittal of the 
analysis required by subsection (a). 
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SEC. 323. WEBSITE. 
(a) REPORTS TO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION; 
INCIDENTS AND DETAILS.—Section 3507(g)(3)(A) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘the incident to an 
Internet based portal maintained by the Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘each incident specified in clause (i) to 
the Internet website maintained by the Secretary of 
Transportation under paragraph (4)(A)’’; and 
(2) in clause (iii) by striking ‘‘based portal 
maintained by the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘website 
maintained by the Secretary of Transportation 
under paragraph (4)(A)’’. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF INCIDENT DATA ON INTER-
NET.—Section 3507(g)(4) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) WEBSITE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Transportation shall maintain a statistical 
compilation of all incidents on board a 
cruise 
vessel 
specified 
in 
paragraph 
(3)(A)(i) on an Internet website that pro-
vides a numerical accounting of the miss-
ing persons and alleged crimes reported 
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under that paragraph without regard to 
the investigative status of the incident. 
‘‘(ii) UPDATES AND OTHER REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The compilation under clause (i) 
shall— 
‘‘(I) be updated not less fre-
quently than quarterly; 
‘‘(II) be able to be sorted by 
cruise line; 
‘‘(III) identify each cruise line by 
name; 
‘‘(IV) identify each crime or al-
leged crime committed or allegedly 
committed by a passenger or crew-
member; and 
‘‘(V) identify the number of indi-
viduals alleged overboard. 
‘‘(iii) USER-FRIENDLY FORMAT.—The 
Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 
that the compilation, data, and any other 
information provided on the Internet 
website maintained under this subpara-
graph are in a user-friendly format.’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’. 
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TITLE IV—FEDERAL MARITIME 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Federal 
Maritime Commission $24,700,000 for fiscal year 2015. 
SEC. 402. AWARD OF REPARATIONS. 
Section 41305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, plus reason-
able attorney fees’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) ATTORNEY FEES.—In any action brought under 
section 41301, the prevailing party may be awarded rea-
sonable attorney fees.’’. 
SEC. 403. TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301(b) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) TERMS.—The term of each Commissioner 
is 5 years. When the term of a Commissioner ends, 
the Commissioner may continue to serve until a suc-
cessor is appointed and qualified, but for a period 
not to exceed one year. Except as provided in para-
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graph (3), no individual may serve more than 2 
terms.’’; and 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (5), and inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment. An 
individual appointed to fill a vacancy is appointed 
only for the unexpired term of the individual being 
succeeded. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy 
may serve 2 terms in addition to the remainder of 
the term for which the predecessor of that individual 
was appointed. 
‘‘(4) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
‘‘(A) 
LIMITATION
ON
RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH REGULATED ENTITIES.—A Commissioner 
may not have a pecuniary interest in, hold an 
official relation to, or own stocks or bonds of 
any entity the Commission regulates under 
chapter 401 of this title. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION
ON
OTHER
ACTIVI-
TIES.—A Commissioner may not engage in an-
other business, vocation, or employment.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a)(1) does not apply with respect to a Commis-
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sioner of the Federal Maritime Commission appointed and 
confirmed by the Senate before the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
TITLE V—ARCTIC MARITIME 
TRANSPORTATION 
SEC. 501. ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) ARCTIC MARITIME TRANSPORTATION.—Chapter 
5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 89 the following: 
‘‘§ 90. Arctic maritime transportation 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
sure safe and secure maritime shipping in the Arctic in-
cluding the availability of aids to navigation, vessel es-
corts, spill response capability, and maritime search and 
rescue in the Arctic. 
‘‘(b) INTERNATIONAL
MARITIME
ORGANIZATION 
AGREEMENTS.—To carry out the purpose of this section, 
the Secretary is encouraged to enter into negotiations 
through the International Maritime Organization to con-
clude and execute agreements to promote coordinated ac-
tion among the United States, Russia, Canada, Iceland, 
Norway, and Denmark and other seafaring and Arctic na-
tions to ensure, in the Arctic— 
‘‘(1) placement and maintenance of aids to 
navigation; 
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‘‘(2) appropriate marine safety, tug, and sal-
vage capabilities; 
‘‘(3) oil spill prevention and response capability; 
‘‘(4) maritime domain awareness, including 
long-range vessel tracking; and 
‘‘(5) search and rescue. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION BY COMMITTEE ON THE MARI-
TIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.—The Committee on the 
Maritime Transportation System established under section 
55501 of title 46, United States Code, shall coordinate 
the establishment of domestic transportation policies in 
the Arctic necessary to carry out the purpose of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS.—The Secretary 
may, subject to the availability of appropriations, enter 
into cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agree-
ments with, or make grants to, individuals and govern-
ments to carry out the purpose of this section or any 
agreements established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(e) ICEBREAKING.—The Secretary shall promote 
safe maritime navigation by means of icebreaking where 
necessary, feasible, and effective to carry out the purposes 
of this section. 
‘‘(f) ARCTIC DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 
‘Arctic’ has the meaning given such term in section 112 
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of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 
4111).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 89 the following: 
‘‘90. Arctic maritime transportation.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 307 of the 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111– 
281; 14 U.S.C. 92 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 502. ARCTIC MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 154. Arctic maritime domain awareness 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant shall improve 
maritime domain awareness in the Arctic— 
‘‘(1) by promoting interagency cooperation and 
coordination; 
‘‘(2) by employing joint, interagency, and inter-
national capabilities; and 
‘‘(3) by facilitating the sharing of information, 
intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 
domain between the Coast Guard and departments 
and agencies listed in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—The Commandant shall seek 
to coordinate the collection, sharing, and use of informa-
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tion, intelligence, and data related to the Arctic maritime 
domain between the Coast Guard and the following: 
‘‘(1) The Department of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(2) The Department of Defense. 
‘‘(3) The Department of Transportation. 
‘‘(4) The Department of State. 
‘‘(5) The Department of the Interior. 
‘‘(6) The National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(7) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. 
‘‘(8) The Environmental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(9) The National Science Foundation. 
‘‘(10) The Arctic Research Commission. 
‘‘(11) Any Federal agency or commission or 
State the Commandant determines is appropriate. 
‘‘(c) COOPERATION.—The Commandant and the head 
of a department or agency listed in subsection (b) may 
by agreement, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, share 
personnel, services, equipment, and facilities to carry out 
the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(d) 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than Jan-
uary 1, 2016 and every 5 years thereafter, the Com-
mandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
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mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives a 5-year strategic plan to guide inter-
agency and international intergovernmental cooperation 
and coordination for the purpose of improving maritime 
domain awareness in the Arctic 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section the term ‘Arctic’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 112 of the 
Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 
4111).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 153 the following: 
‘‘154. Arctic maritime domain awareness.’’. 
SEC. 503. 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-
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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; 
(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. 504. FORWARD OPERATING FACILITIES. 
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may construct facilities in the Arctic 
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(as that term is defined in section 112 of the Arctic Re-
search and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111). The fa-
cilities shall— 
(1) support aircraft maintenance, including ex-
haust ventilation, heat, an engine wash system, fuel, 
ground support services, and electrical power; 
(2) provide shelter for both current helicopter 
assets and those projected to be located at Air Sta-
tion Kodiak, Alaska, for at least 20 years; and 
(3) include accommodations for personnel. 
SEC. 505. ICEBREAKERS. 
(a) COAST GUARD POLAR ICEBREAKERS.—Section 
222 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (d)(2)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading by striking 
‘‘; BRIDGING STRATEGY’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Commandant of the Coast 
Guard’’ and all that follows through the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may decommission the Polar 
Sea.’’; 
(2) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the 
following: 
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‘‘(3) RESULT OF NO DETERMINATION.—If in 
the analysis submitted under this section the Sec-
retary does not make a determination under sub-
section (a)(5) regarding whether it is cost effective 
to reactivate the Polar Sea, then— 
‘‘(A) the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
may decommission the Polar Sea; or 
‘‘(B) the Secretary may make such deter-
mination, not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of Howard Coble Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, and 
take actions in accordance with this subsection 
as though such determination was made in the 
analysis previously submitted.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and 
(g) as subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) STRATEGIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the analysis required under 
subsection (a) is submitted, the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
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Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
‘‘(A) unless the Secretary makes a deter-
mination under this section that it is cost effec-
tive to reactivate the Polar Sea, a bridging 
strategy for maintaining the Coast Guard’s 
polar icebreaking services until at least Sep-
tember 30, 2024; 
‘‘(B) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s 
Arctic ice operations needs through September 
30, 2050; and 
‘‘(C) a strategy to meet the Coast Guard’s 
Antarctic ice operations needs through Sep-
tember 30, 2050. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—The strategies required 
under paragraph (1) shall include a business case 
analysis comparing the leasing and purchasing of 
icebreakers to maintain the needs and services de-
scribed in that paragraph.’’. 
(b) CUTTER ‘‘POLAR SEA’’.—Upon the submission of 
a service life extension plan in accordance with section 
222(d)(1)(C) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transpor-
tation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213; 126 Stat. 1560), 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may use funds authorized under section 101 
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of this Act to conduct a service life extension of 7 to 10 
years for the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea (WAGB 11) 
in accordance with such plan. 
(c) LIMITATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may not 
expend amounts appropriated for the Coast Guard 
for any of fiscal years 2015 through 2024, for— 
(A) design activities related to a capability 
of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that is based solely 
on an operational requirement of another Fed-
eral department or agency, except for amounts 
appropriated for design activities for a fiscal 
year before fiscal year 2016; or 
(B) long-lead-time materials, production, 
or post-delivery activities related to such a ca-
pability. 
(2) OTHER
AMOUNTS.—Amounts made avail-
able to the Secretary under an agreement with an-
other Federal department or agency and expended 
on a capability of a Polar-Class Icebreaker that is 
based solely on an operational requirement of that or 
another Federal department or agency shall not be 
treated as amounts expended by the Secretary for 
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purposes of the limitation established under para-
graph (1). 
SEC. 506. ICEBREAKING IN POLAR REGIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 86 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 87. Icebreaking in polar regions 
‘‘The President shall facilitate planning for the de-
sign, procurement, maintenance, deployment, and oper-
ation of icebreakers as needed to support the statutory 
missions of the Coast Guard in the polar regions by allo-
cating all funds to support icebreaking operations in such 
regions, except for recurring incremental costs associated 
with specific projects, to the Coast Guard.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 86 the following: 
‘‘87. Icebreaking in polar regions.’’. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 
Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2006 (46 U.S.C. 8103 note) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking subsections (c) and (e); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (f) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively. 
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SEC. 602. EXTENSION OF MORATORIUM. 
Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘2015’’. 
SEC. 603. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation, in consultation with the Secretary of the depart-
ment 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 a 
national maritime strategy. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The strategy required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify— 
(A) Federal regulations and policies that 
reduce the competitiveness of United States flag 
vessels in international transportation markets; 
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— 
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(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) ensure 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, including routes designated under 
section 55601(c) of title 46, United States 
Code, to enhance intermodal freight movements; 
and 
(F) enhance United States shipbuilding ca-
pability. 
SEC. 604. WAIVERS. 
(a) ‘‘JOHN CRAIG’’.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 8902 of title 46, 
United States Code, shall not apply to the vessel 
John 
Craig 
(United 
States 
official 
number 
D1110613) when such vessel is operating on the 
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portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, located at 
approximately mile point 158, in Pool Number 9, be-
tween Lock and Dam Number 9 and Lock and Dam 
Number 10. 
(2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 
on and after the date on which the Secretary of the 
department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
determines that a licensing requirement has been es-
tablished under Kentucky State law that applies to 
an operator of the vessel John Craig. 
(b) 
‘‘F/V 
WESTERN
CHALLENGER’’.—Notwith-
standing section 12132 of title 46, United States Code, 
the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating may issue a certificate of documentation with 
a coastwise endorsement for the F/V Western Challenger 
(IMO number 5388108). 
SEC. 605. 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 and that impact 
the ability of vessels documented under the laws of the 
United States to effectively compete in international trans-
portation markets. 
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(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 to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the assessment 
required under such subsection. 
SEC. 606. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICES OF AR-
RIVAL AND DEPARTURE AND AUTOMATIC 
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating shall notify the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the status 
of the final rule that relates to the notice of proposed rule-
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making titled ‘‘Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival 
and Departure, and Automatic Identification System’’ and 
published in the Federal Register on December 16, 2008 
(73 Fed. Reg. 76295). 
SEC. 607. CONVEYANCE OF COAST GUARD PROPERTY IN 
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. 
(a) CONVEYANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Commandant 
of the Coast Guard is authorized to convey, at fair market 
value, all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to a parcel of real property, consisting of approxi-
mately 0.2 acres, that is under the administrative control 
of the Coast Guard and located at 527 River Street in 
Rochester, New York. 
(b) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.—The City of Roch-
ester, New York, shall have the right of first refusal with 
respect to the purchase, at fair market value, of the real 
property described in subsection (a). 
(c) SURVEY.—The exact acreage and legal descrip-
tion of the property described in subsection (a) shall be 
determined by a survey satisfactory to the Commandant. 
(d) FAIR MARKET VALUE.—The fair market value 
of the property described in subsection (a) shall— 
(1) be determined by appraisal; and 
(2) be subject to the approval of the Com-
mandant. 
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