(b) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY COMPLIANCE AGREE-
MENTS.—Nothing in this section or the amendments made 
by this section shall be construed to affect or apply to any 
alternative compliance and safety agreement entered into 
by the Coast Guard that is in effect on the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec-
tions in chapter 45 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 4503a. 
SEC. 305. REQUIREMENTS FOR DUKW-TYPE AMPHIBIOUS 
PASSENGER VESSELS. 
(a) REGULATIONS REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant 
of the Coast Guard shall issue regulations for DUKW-type 
amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in sec-
tion 2.38 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act). 
(b) DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE.—The regulations 
issued under subsection (a) shall take effect not later than 
24 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
regulations 
required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A requirement that operators of DUKW- 
type amphibious passenger vessels provide reserve
buoyancy for such vessels through passive means, in-
cluding watertight compartmentalization, built-in flo-
tation, or such other means as determined appro-
priate by the Commandant, in order to ensure that 
such vessels remain afloat and upright in the event 
of flooding, including when carrying a full com-
plement of passengers and crew. 
(2) A requirement that an operator of a 
DUKW-type amphibious passenger vessel— 
(A) review and notate the forecast of the 
National Weather Service of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration in the 
logbook of the vessel before getting underway 
and periodically while underway; 
(B) proceed to the nearest harbor or safe 
refuge in any case in which a watch or warning 
is issued for wind speeds exceeding the wind 
speed equivalent used to certify the stability of 
such DUKW-type amphibious passenger vessel; 
and 
(C) maintain and monitor a weather mon-
itor radio receiver at the operator station of the 
vessel that is automatically activated by the 
warning alarm device of the National Weather 
Service.
(3) A requirement that— 
(A) operators of DUKW-type amphibious 
passenger vessels inform passengers that seat 
belts may not be worn during waterborne oper-
ations; 
(B) before the commencement of water-
borne operations, a crew member shall visually 
check that the seatbelt of each passenger is un-
buckled; and 
(C) operators or crew maintain a log re-
cording the actions described in subparagraphs 
(A) and (B). 
(4) A requirement for annual training for oper-
ators and crew of DUKW-type amphibious pas-
sengers vessels, including— 
(A) training for personal flotation and seat 
belt requirements, verifying the integrity of the 
vessel at the onset of each waterborne depar-
ture, identification of weather hazards, and use 
of National Weather Service resources prior to 
operation; and 
(B) training for crew to respond to emer-
gency situations, including flooding, engine 
compartment fires, man-overboard situations, 
and in water emergency egress procedures.