destined for, or departing from, a port or place subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States and that is in— 
‘‘(1) innocent passage through the territorial 
sea of the United States; or 
‘‘(2) transit through the navigable waters of the 
United States that form a part of an international 
strait. 
‘‘§ 70034. Regulations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 553 
of title 5, the Secretary shall issue, and may from time 
to time amend or repeal, regulations necessary to imple-
ment this chapter. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—In the exercise of the regu-
latory authority under this chapter, the Secretary shall 
consult with, and receive and consider the views of all in-
terested persons, including— 
‘‘(1) interested Federal departments and agen-
cies; 
‘‘(2) officials of State and local governments; 
‘‘(3) representatives of the maritime commu-
nity; 
‘‘(4) representatives of port and harbor authori-
ties or associations; 
‘‘(5) representatives of environmental groups; 
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‘‘(6) any other interested persons who are 
knowledgeable or experienced in dealing with prob-
lems involving vessel safety, port and waterways 
safety, and protection of the marine environment; 
and 
‘‘(7) advisory committees consisting of all inter-
ested segments of the public when the establishment 
of such committees is considered necessary because 
the issues involved are highly complex or controver-
sial. 
‘‘§ 70035. Investigatory powers 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY.—The Secretary may investigate 
any incident, accident, or act involving the loss or destruc-
tion of, or damage to, any structure subject to this chap-
ter, or that affects or may affect the safety or environ-
mental quality of the ports, harbors, or navigable waters 
of the United States. 
‘‘(b) POWERS.—In an investigation under this sec-
tion, the Secretary may issue subpoenas to require the at-
tendance of witnesses and the production of documents or 
other evidence relating to such incident, accident, or act. 
If any person refuses to obey a subpoena, the Secretary 
may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of the 
appropriate district court of the United States to compel 
compliance with the subpoena. Any district court of the 
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United States may, in the case of refusal to obey a sub-
poena, issue an order requiring compliance with the sub-
poena, and failure to obey the order may be punished by 
the court as contempt. Witnesses may be paid fees for 
travel and attendance at rates not exceeding those allowed 
in a district court of the United States. 
‘‘§ 70036. Enforcement 
‘‘(a) CIVIL PENALTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who is found 
by the Secretary, after notice and an opportunity for 
a hearing, to have violated this chapter or a regula-
tion issued under this chapter shall be liable to the 
United States for a civil penalty, not to exceed 
$25,000 for each violation. Each day of a continuing 
violation shall constitute a separate violation. The 
amount of such civil penalty shall be assessed by the 
Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, by written 
notice. In determining the amount of such penalty, 
the Secretary shall take into account the nature, cir-
cumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited 
acts committed and, with respect to the violator, the 
degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, 
ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may 
require. 
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‘‘(2) COMPROMISE, MODIFICATION, OR REMIS-
SION.—The Secretary may compromise, modify, or 
remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty 
that is subject to imposition or that has been im-
posed under this section. 
‘‘(3) FAILURE TO PAY PENALTY.—If any per-
son fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty 
after it has become final, the Secretary may refer 
the matter to the Attorney General of the United 
States, for collection in any appropriate district 
court of the United States. 
‘‘(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY.— 
‘‘(1) CLASS D FELONY.—Any person who will-
fully and knowingly violates this chapter or any reg-
ulation issued hereunder commits a class D felony. 
‘‘(2) CLASS C FELONY.—Any person who, in 
the willful and knowing violation of this chapter or 
of any regulation issued under this chapter, uses a 
dangerous weapon, or engages in conduct that 
causes bodily injury or fear of imminent bodily in-
jury to any officer authorized to enforce the provi-
sions of this chapter or the regulations issued under 
this chapter, commits a class C felony. 
‘‘(c) IN REM LIABILITY.—Any vessel that is used in 
violation of this chapter, or any regulations issued under 
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this chapter, shall be liable in rem for any civil penalty 
assessed pursuant to subsection (a) and may be proceeded 
against in the United States district court for any district 
in which such vessel may be found. 
‘‘(d) INJUNCTION.—The United States district courts 
shall have jurisdiction to restrain violations of this chapter 
or of regulations issued under this chapter, for cause 
shown. 
‘‘(e) DENIAL OF ENTRY.—Except as provided in sec-
tion 70021, the Secretary may, subject to recognized prin-
ciples of international law, deny entry by any vessel that 
is not in compliance with this chapter or the regulations 
issued under this chapter— 
‘‘(1) into the navigable waters of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(2) to any port or place under the jurisdiction 
of the United States. 
‘‘(f) WITHHOLDING OF CLEARANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If any owner, operator, or 
individual in charge of a vessel is liable for a penalty 
or fine under this section, or if reasonable cause ex-
ists to believe that the owner, operator, or individual 
in charge may be subject to a penalty or fine under 
this section, the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the 
request of the Secretary, shall with respect to such 
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vessel refuse or revoke any clearance required by 
section 60105 of title 46. 
‘‘(2) GRANTING CLEARANCE REFUSED OR RE-
VOKED.—Clearance refused or revoked under this 
subsection may be granted upon filing of a bond or 
other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at the be-
ginning of such subtitle is amended by inserting before 
the item relating to chapter 701 the following: 
‘‘700. Ports and Waterways Safety .............................................70001.’’. 
SEC. 302. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) ELECTRONIC CHARTS.— 
(1) TRANSFER OF PROVISION.—Section 4A of 
the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 
1223a)— 
(A) is redesignated as section 3105 of title 
46, United States Code, and transferred to ap-
pear after section 3104 of that title; and 
(B) is amended by striking subsection (b) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) Except pursuant to an international treaty, con-
vention, or agreement, to which the United States is a 
party, this section shall not apply to any foreign vessel 
that is not destined for, or departing from, a port or place 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and that 
is in— 
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‘‘(1) innocent passage through the territorial 
sea of the United States; or 
‘‘(2) transit through the navigable waters of the 
United States that form a part of an international 
strait.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of chapter 31 of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘3105. Electronic charts.’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 2307 of title 46, United States 
Code, and the item relating to that section in the analysis 
at the beginning of chapter 23 of that title, are repealed. 
(c) REPEAL.—The Ports and Waterways Safety Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is re-
pealed. 
SEC. 303. TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SOURCE
PROVISION.—The term ‘‘source 
provision’’ means a provision of law that is replaced 
by a title 46 provision under this title. 
(2) TITLE 46 PROVISION.—The term ‘‘title 46 
provision’’ means a provision of title 46, United 
States Code, that is enacted by section 302. 
(b) CUTOFF DATE.—The title 46 provisions replace 
certain provisions of law enacted before the date of the 
enactment of this Act. If a law enacted after that date 
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amends or repeals a source provision, that law is deemed 
to amend or repeal, as the case may be, the corresponding 
title 46 provision. If a law enacted after that date is other-
wise inconsistent with a title 46 provision or a provision 
of this title, that law supersedes the title 46 provision or 
provision of this title to the extent of the inconsistency. 
(c) ORIGINAL DATE OF ENACTMENT UNCHANGED.— 
For purposes of determining whether one provision of law 
supersedes another based on enactment later in time, a 
title 46 provision is deemed to have been enacted on the 
date of enactment of the source provision that the title 
46 provision replaces. 
(d) REFERENCES TO TITLE 46 PROVISIONS.—A ref-
erence to a title 46 provision, including a reference in a 
regulation, order, or other law, is deemed to refer to the 
corresponding source provision. 
(e) REFERENCES TO SOURCE PROVISIONS.—A ref-
erence to a source provision, including a reference in a 
regulation, order, or other law, is deemed to refer to the 
corresponding title 46 provision. 
(f) REGULATIONS, ORDERS, AND OTHER ADMINIS-
TRATIVE ACTIONS.—A regulation, order, or other admin-
istrative action in effect under a source provision con-
tinues in effect under the corresponding title 46 provision. 
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(g) ACTIONS TAKEN AND OFFENSES COMMITTED.— 
An action taken or an offense committed under a source 
provision is deemed to have been taken or committed 
under the corresponding title 46 provision. 
SEC. 304. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
This title, including the amendments made by this 
title, is intended only to reorganize title 14, United States 
Code, and may not be construed to alter— 
(1) the effect of a provision of title 14, United 
States Code, including any authority or requirement 
therein; 
(2) a department or agency interpretation with 
respect to title 14, United States Code; or 
(3) a judicial interpretation with respect to title 
14, United States Code. 
SEC. 305. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: REPEAL. 
Section 18 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 
1991 (Public Law 102–241; 105 Stat. 2213) is repealed. 
TITLE IV—MARITIME 
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY 
SEC. 401. CLARIFICATION OF LOGBOOK ENTRIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11304 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘an official’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (b), by amending paragraph 
(3) to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) Each illness of, and injury to, a seaman of 
the vessel, the nature of the illness or injury, and 
the medical treatment provided for the injury or ill-
ness.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 11304(b) is 
amended by striking ‘‘log book’’ and inserting ‘‘logbook’’. 
SEC. 402. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS: LICENSES, CERTIFI-
CATIONS 
OF 
REGISTRY, 
AND 
MERCHANT 
MARINER DOCUMENTS. 
Title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in section 7106(b), by striking ‘‘merchant 
mariner’s document,’’ and inserting ‘‘license,’’; 
(2) in section 7107(b), by striking ‘‘merchant 
mariner’s document,’’ and inserting ‘‘certificate of 
registry,’’; 
(3) in section 7507(b)(1), by striking ‘‘licenses 
or certificates of registry’’ and inserting ‘‘merchant 
mariner documents’’; and 
(4) in section 7507(b)(2) by striking ‘‘merchant 
mariner’s document.’’ and inserting ‘‘license or cer-
tificate of registry.’’. 
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SEC. 403. NUMBERING FOR UNDOCUMENTED BARGES. 
Section 12301(b) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘of’’ after ‘‘barge’’. 
SEC. 404. DRAWBRIDGE DEVIATION EXEMPTION. 
Section 5 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act making appro-
priations for the construction, repair, and preservation of 
certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other 
purposes’’, approved August 18, 1894 (33 U.S.C. 499), 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) EXEMPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A change to a schedule 
that governs the opening of a drawbridge that will 
be in effect for less than 6 months shall not be sub-
ject to the rule making requirements of section 553 
of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(2) ALTERNATE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall provide notice of each 
such change through— 
‘‘(i) a local notice to mariners; 
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‘‘(ii) a Coast Guard broadcast notice 
to mariners; or 
‘‘(iii) another method of notice that 
the Secretary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(B) OWNER
AND
OPERATOR
DUTIES.— 
With respect to any drawbridge other than a 
railroad drawbridge, the owner or operator of 
such drawbridge shall provide notice of such a 
change to— 
‘‘(i) the general public, through publi-
cation in a newspaper of general circula-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) the Department of Transpor-
tation or other public agency with adminis-
trative jurisdiction over the roadway that 
abuts the approach to such bridge; and 
‘‘(iii) the law enforcement organiza-
tion with jurisdiction over the roadway 
that abuts the approach to such bridge.’’. 
SEC. 405. DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALTERNATE 
SAFETY COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS. 
(a) DEADLINE.—Section 4503(d) of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by striking so much as precedes 
paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary, in cooperation with the com-
mercial fishing industry, may prescribe an alternative 
safety compliance program that shall apply in lieu of re-
quirements under section 4502(b), for any category of 
fishing vessels, fish processing vessels, or fish tender ves-
sels that are— 
‘‘(A) at least 50 feet overall in length; 
‘‘(B) built before July 1, 2013; and 
‘‘(C) 25 years of age or older. 
‘‘(2) An alternative safety compliance program pre-
scribed under paragraph (1) shall apply to a vessel— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
after the later of January 1, 2020, or the end of the 
3-year period beginning on the date on which the 
Secretary prescribes the program; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a vessel that undergoes a 
major conversion completed after the later of July 1, 
2013, or the date the Secretary establishes stand-
ards for the alternate safety compliance program, 
upon the completion of such conversion.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4502(b) of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
subject to section 4503(d),’’ after ‘‘In addition to the re-
quirements of subsection (a) of this section,’’. 
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SEC. 406. AUTHORIZATION FOR MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM. 
The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduc-
tion Act is amended— 
(1) in section 9 (33 U.S.C. 1958)— 
(A) by striking the em-dash and all that 
follows through ‘‘(1)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and all that follows 
through the end of the section and inserting a 
period; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘Of the amounts authorized for each fiscal year 
under section 2702(1) of title 14, United States Code, up 
to $2,000,000 are authorized for the Commandant to 
carry out section 4 of this Act, of which not more than 
10 percent may be used for administrative costs.’’. 
SEC. 407. ALTERNATIVE DISTRESS SIGNALS. 
(a) PERFORMANCE STANDARD.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall issue a rule that establishes a performance 
standard for distress signals, including for maritime visual 
distress signals, that may be used as an alternative to the 
distress signals required by section 175.110 of title 33, 
Code of Federal Regulations.. 
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(b) AUTHORIZATION OF USE.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the issuance of a rule under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall issue a rule amending part 
175 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, to authorize 
use of distress signals in accordance with such perform-
ance standard. 
SEC. 408. ATLANTIC COAST PORT ACCESS ROUTE STUDY 
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of the Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of action taken to carry out the recommendations 
contained in the final report issued by the Atlantic Coast 
Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) workgroup for which 
notice of availability was published March 14, 2016 (81 
Fed. Reg. 13307). 
SEC. 409. DOCUMENTATION OF RECREATIONAL VESSELS. 
Coast Guard personnel performing nonrecreational 
vessel documentation functions under subchapter II of 
chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code, may perform 
recreational vessel documentation under section 12114 of 
such title in any fiscal year in which— 
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(1) funds available for Coast Guard operating 
expenses may not be used for expenses incurred for 
recreational vessel documentation; 
(2) fees collected from owners of yachts and 
credited to such use are insufficient to pay expenses 
of recreational vessel documentation; and 
(3) there is a backlog of applications for rec-
reational vessel documentation. 
SEC. 410. CERTIFICATES OF DOCUMENTATION FOR REC-
REATIONAL VESSELS. 
Section 12114 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE PERIOD.—A recreational endorse-
ment for a vessel— 
‘‘(1) except as provided in paragraph (3), shall 
be effective for 5 years; 
‘‘(2) shall require the owner of the vessel to no-
tify the Coast Guard of each change in the informa-
tion on which the issuance of the certificate of docu-
mentation is based that occurs before the expiration 
of the certificate under this subsection, by not later 
than 30 days after such change; and 
‘‘(3) shall terminate upon the expiration of such 
30-day period if the owner has not notified the 
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Coast Guard of such change before the end of such 
period. 
‘‘(e) STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY TO REMOVE 
ABANDONED AND DERELICT VESSELS.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to limit the authority of a State 
or local authority from taking action to remove an aban-
doned or derelict vessel.’’. 
SEC. 411. BACKUP GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle VIII of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘CHAPTER 807—POSITION, NAVIGATION, 
AND TIMING 
‘‘80701. Land-based complementary and backup positioning, navigation, and 
timing system. 
‘‘§ 80701. Land-based complementary and backup po-
sitioning, navigation, and timing system 
‘‘(a) eLORAN.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Secretary shall provide for the establish-
ment, sustainment, and operation of a reliable land-based 
enhanced LORAN, or eLORAN, positioning, navigation, 
and timing system. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the system estab-
lished under subsection (a) is to provide a complement to, 
and backup for, the Global Positioning System (in this 
section referred to as ‘GPS’) to ensure the availability of 
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