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‘‘§ 428. Sea service letters 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide a 
sea service letter to a member or former member of the 
Coast Guard who— 
‘‘(1) accumulated sea service on a vessel of the 
armed forces (as such term is defined in section 
101(a) of title 10); and 
‘‘(2) requests such letter. 
‘‘(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than 30 days after re-
ceiving a request for a sea service letter from a member 
or former member of the Coast Guard under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall provide such letter to such member 
or former member if such member or former member sat-
isfies the requirement under subsection (a)(1).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by insert-
ing after the item relating to section 427 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘428. Sea service letters.’’. 
(c) CREDITING OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 
SERVICE, TRAINING, AND QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) MAXIMIZING
CREDITABILITY.—The Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating, in implementing United States mer-
chant mariner license, certification, and document 
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laws and the International Convention on Standards 
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Sea-
farers, 1978, shall maximize the extent to which 
United States Armed Forces service, training, and 
qualifications are creditable toward meeting the re-
quirements of such laws and such Convention. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall notify the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to 
implement this subsection. 
SEC. 310. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Act to Prevent Pollution 
from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 18. TREATMENT OF ABANDONED SEAFARERS. 
‘‘(a) ABANDONED SEAFARERS FUND.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 
the Treasury a separate account to be known as the 
Abandoned Seafarers Fund. 
‘‘(2) CREDITING OF AMOUNTS TO FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There shall be cred-
ited to the Fund the following: 
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‘‘(i) Penalties deposited in the Fund 
under section 9, except as provided in sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(ii) Amounts reimbursed or recov-
ered under subsection (d). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Amounts may be cred-
ited to the Fund under subparagraph (A)(i) 
only if the unobligated balance of the Fund is 
less than $2,000,000. 
‘‘(3) REPORT
REQUIRED.—On the date on 
which the President submits each budget for a fiscal 
year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, the Secretary 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 Sen-
ate a report that describes— 
‘‘(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) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS FROM 
FUND.—Amounts in the Fund may be appropriated to the 
Secretary for use to— 
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‘‘(1) pay necessary support of— 
‘‘(A) a seafarer that— 
‘‘(i) enters, remains, or is paroled into 
the United States; and 
‘‘(ii) is involved in an investigation, 
reporting, documentation, or adjudication 
of any matter that is related to the admin-
istration or enforcement of this Act by the 
Coast Guard; and 
‘‘(B) a seafarer that the Secretary deter-
mines was abandoned in the United States and 
has not applied for asylum under section 208 or 
235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1158, 1225); and 
‘‘(2) reimburse a vessel owner or operator that 
has provided necessary support of a seafarer who 
has been paroled into the United States to facilitate 
an investigation, reporting, documentation, or adju-
dication of any matter that is related to the adminis-
tration or enforcement of this Act by the Coast 
Guard, for the costs of such necessary support. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed— 
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‘‘(1) to create a private right of action or any 
other right, benefit, or entitlement to necessary sup-
port for any person; or 
‘‘(2) to compel the Secretary to pay or reim-
burse the cost of necessary support. 
‘‘(d) 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 
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‘‘(II) required to reimburse the 
Fund pursuant to a court order or ne-
gotiated settlement related to such 
matter; or 
‘‘(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), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) proceed in rem against the vessel on 
which the affected seafarer served in the Fed-
eral district court for the district in which the 
vessel is found; and 
‘‘(B) withhold or revoke the clearance re-
quired under section 60105 of title 46, United 
States Code, for the vessel. 
‘‘(3) REMEDY.—A vessel may obtain clearance 
from the Secretary after it is withheld or revoked 
under paragraph (2)(B) if the vessel owner or oper-
ator— 
‘‘(A) reimburses the Fund the amount re-
quired under paragraph (1); or 
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‘‘(B) provides a bond, or other evidence of 
financial responsibility sufficient to meet the 
amount required to be reimbursed under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(e) 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; and 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(4) SEAFARER.—The term ‘seafarer’ means an 
alien crewman who is employed or engaged in any 
capacity on board a vessel subject to this Act.’’; and 
(2) in section 9, by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(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 18, subject to the 
limitation in subsection (a)(2)(B) of such section.’’. 
SEC. 311. CLARIFICATION OF HIGH-RISK WATERS. 
Section 55305(e) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘provide armed personnel 
aboard’’ and inserting ‘‘reimburse, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, the owners or 
operators of’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘for the cost of providing 
armed personnel aboard such vessels’’ before 
‘‘if’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘high-risk 
waters’ means waters— 
‘‘(A) so designated by the Commandant of 
the Coast Guard in the maritime security direc-
tive issued by the Commandant and in effect on 
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the date on which an applicable voyage begins; 
and 
‘‘(B) in which the Secretary of Transpor-
tation determines an act of piracy is likely to 
occur based on documented acts of piracy that 
occurred in such waters during the 12-month 
period preceding the date on which an applica-
ble voyage begins.’’. 
SEC. 312. UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS IN THE VIR-
GIN 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) 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— 
‘‘(1) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Motor Vessels (commonly referred 
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to as the ‘Yellow Code’), as published by the U.K. 
Maritime and Coastguard Agency and in effect on 
January 1, 2014; or 
‘‘(2) the Code of Practice for the Safety of 
Small Commercial Sailing Vessels (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘Blue Code’), as published by such 
agency and in effect on such date.’’. 
(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. 313. 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 
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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 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation 
Act of 2014, and for each year of the subsequent 2-year 
period, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 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.’’. 
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SEC. 314. SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO EQUIP.—The Secretary shall 
require that a passenger vessel be equipped with survival 
craft that ensures that no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water, if— 
‘‘(1) such vessel is built or undergoes a major 
conversion after January 1, 2016; and 
‘‘(2) operates in cold waters as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) HIGHER STANDARD
OF SAFETY.—The Sec-
retary may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code 
of Federal Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 
2016, if such revision provides a higher standard of safety 
than is provided by the regulations in effect on or before 
the date of enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014. 
‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE AND NOVEL DESIGNS.—The Sec-
retary may, in lieu of the requirements set out in part 
117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, 
as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, allow 
a passenger vessel to be equipped with a life saving appli-
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ance or arrangement of an innovative or novel design 
that— 
‘‘(1) ensures no part of an individual is im-
mersed in water; and 
‘‘(2) provides an equal or higher standard of 
safety than is provided by such requirements as in 
effect before such date of enactment. 
‘‘(d) BUILT DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘built’ has the meaning that term has under section 
4503(e).’’. 
(b) REVIEW; REVISION OF REGULATIONS.— 
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than December 31, 
2015, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating 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 Sen-
ate a review of— 
(A) the number of casualties for individ-
uals with disabilities, children, and the elderly 
as a result of immersion in water, reported to 
the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year pe-
riod, by vessel type and area of operation; 
(B) the risks to individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly as a result of im-
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mersion in water, by passenger vessel type and 
area of operation; 
(C) the effect that carriage of survival 
craft that ensure that no part of an individual 
is immersed in water has on— 
(i) passenger vessel safety, including 
stability and safe navigation; 
(ii) improving the survivability of indi-
viduals, including individuals with disabil-
ities, children, and the elderly; and 
(iii) the costs, the incremental cost 
difference to vessel operators, and the cost 
effectiveness of requiring the carriage of 
such survival craft to address the risks to 
individuals with disabilities, children, and 
the elderly; 
(D) the efficacy of alternative safety sys-
tems, devices, or measures in improving surviv-
ability of individuals with disabilities, children, 
and the elderly; and 
(E) the number of small businesses and 
nonprofit vessel operators that would be af-
fected by requiring the carriage of such survival 
craft on passenger vessels to address the risks 
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to individuals with disabilities, children, and the 
elderly. 
(2) REVISION.—Based on the review conducted 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may revise regu-
lations concerning the carriage of survival craft pur-
suant to section 3104(c) of title 46, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 315. TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO TITLE 46. 
Section 2116(b)(1)(D) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 93(c)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 93(c) of title 14’’. 
SEC. 316. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) 
DETERMINATION
OF
COVERED
PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Transportation shall an-
nually review programs administered by other de-
partments and agencies and determine whether each 
such program is subject to the requirements of this 
section.’’; 
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(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (5), and by inserting after paragraph 
(1) the following: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall have the sole responsi-
bility to make determinations described in paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) A determination made by the Secretary 
under paragraph (1) regarding a program shall re-
main in effect until the Secretary determines that 
such program is no longer subject to the require-
ments of this section. 
‘‘(4) Each department or agency administering 
a program determined by the Secretary under para-
graph (1) to be subject to the requirements of this 
section shall administer such program in accordance 
with this section and any rules or guidance issued by 
the Secretary. The issuance of such rules or guid-
ance is not a prerequisite to the issuance of final de-
terminations under paragraph (1).’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5)(A), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘‘section;’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion, to determine compliance with the require-
ments of this section;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(6) On the date on which the President sub-
mits to Congress a budget pursuant to section 1105 
of title 31, the Secretary 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 Sen-
ate a report that— 
‘‘(A) lists the programs determined under 
paragraph (1) to be subject to the requirements 
of this section; and 
‘‘(B) describes the results of the most re-
cent annual review required by paragraph 
(5)(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 (5) with respect to 
each violation.’’. 
(2) DEADLINE FOR FIRST REVIEW.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation shall complete the first re-
view and make the determinations required under 
the amendment made by paragraph (1)(A) by not 
later than December 31, 2015. 
(b) RULEMAKING.— 
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(1) AUTHORITY.—Section 55305(d) of title 46, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) The Secretary may prescribe rules, includ-
ing interim rules, necessary to carry out paragraph 
(5). An interim rule prescribed under this paragraph 
shall remain in effect until superseded by a final 
rule.’’. 
(2) 
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. 317. SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENTS. 
(a) NOAA MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM.—Section 3 of 
the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘AND CONTRACTS’’ and inserting ‘‘CONTRACTS, 
AND OTHER AGREEMENTS’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the purposes 
set forth in section 2, the Administrator, acting 
through the Program, may— 
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‘‘(A) enter into cooperative agreements, 
contracts, and other agreements with Federal 
agencies, States, local governments, regional 
agencies, interstate agencies, and other entities, 
including agreements to use the personnel, serv-
ices, equipment, or facilities of such entities on 
a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis; and 
‘‘(B) make grants to— 
‘‘(i) State, local, and tribal govern-
ments; and 
‘‘(ii) institutions of higher education, 
nonprofit organizations, and commercial 
organizations with the expertise or respon-
sibility to identify, determine sources of, 
assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine 
debris.’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and 
(6) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a 
grant under paragraph (1)(B), an entity speci-
fied in that paragraph shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator a marine debris project proposal. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—The Ad-
ministrator shall— 
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‘‘(i) review each marine debris project 
proposal submitted under subparagraph 
(A) to determine if the proposal meets 
grant criteria established by the Adminis-
trator and supports the purposes set forth 
in section 2; 
‘‘(ii) after considering any written 
comments and recommendations with re-
spect to the review conducted under clause 
(i), approve or disapprove a grant for the 
proposal; and 
‘‘(iii) provide notification of that ap-
proval or disapproval to the entity that 
submitted the proposal. 
‘‘(C) REPORTING.—Each entity receiving a 
grant under paragraph (1)(B) shall provide re-
ports to the Administrator as required by the 
Administrator. Each report provided shall in-
clude all information determined necessary by 
the Administrator for evaluating the progress 
and success of the project for which the grant 
was provided and describe the impact of the 
grant on the identification, determination of 
sources, assessment, prevention, reduction, or 
removal of marine debris. 
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‘‘(D) TRAINING.—The Administrator may 
require a recipient of a grant under this sub-
section to provide training to persons engaged 
in marine debris response efforts funded by 
such grant with respect to the potential impacts 
of marine debris, including nonindigenous spe-
cies related to the debris, on the economy of the 
United States, the marine environment, and 
navigation safety.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENTS.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT PREFERENCE.—In evaluating pro-
posals for grants under subsection (c), the Adminis-
trator may give preference in approving grants to 
proposals that address a severe marine debris event. 
‘‘(2) REQUEST FOR A DECLARATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the Governor of a State may request 
that the Administrator declare a severe marine 
debris event in such State or a region that in-
cludes such State. 
‘‘(B) RESPONSE TO REQUESTS.—Not later 
than 30 days after the Administrator receives a 
request under subparagraph (A), the Adminis-
trator shall either— 
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‘‘(i) declare a severe marine debris 
event with respect to the request; or 
‘‘(ii) submit a response to the Gov-
ernor who submitted the request, explain-
ing why the Administrator has not de-
clared a severe marine debris event with 
respect to the request.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 7 of the Marine Debris 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1956) is amended— 
(1) by moving paragraph (5) to appear before 
paragraph (6); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and 
(7) as paragraphs (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) NONINDIGENOUS
SPECIES.—The term 
‘nonindigenous species’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 1003 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic 
Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 
U.S.C. 4702).’’. 
(c) SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS EVENT DETERMINA-
TION.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
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istration may provide funds to an eligible entity 
impacted by the covered severe marine debris 
event to assist such entity with the costs of any 
activity carried out to address the effects of 
such event. 
(B) FUNDING.—The Administrator may 
provide funds under subparagraph (A) using 
any funds provided by the Government of 
Japan for activities to address the effects of the 
covered severe marine debris event. 
(C) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the 
following definitions apply: 
(i) COVERED SEVERE MARINE DEBRIS 
EVENT.—The term ‘‘covered severe marine 
debris event’’ means the events, including 
marine debris, resulting from the March 
2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent 
tsunami. 
(ii) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘el-
igible entity’’ means any State (as defined 
in section 7 of the Marine Debris Act (33 
U.S.C. 1956)), local, or tribal government. 
(2) REPEAL.—The Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–213) 
is amended— 
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(A) in the table of contents in section 1(b) 
by striking the item relating to section 609; and 
(B) by striking section 609. 
SEC. 318. MINIMUM TONNAGE. 
Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) MINIMUM TONNAGE.—With respect to commod-
ities transported under the activities specified in section 
55314(b), the percentage specified in subsection (b) of this 
section shall be treated as 75 percent.’’. 
SEC. 319. MERCHANT MARINE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 81 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Com-
mittee 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in 
this section referred to as ‘the Committee’). The Com-
mittee— 
‘‘(1) shall act solely in an advisory capacity to 
the Secretary through the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard on matters relating to personnel in the 
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United States merchant marine, including training, 
qualifications, certification, documentation, and fit-
ness standards, and other matters as assigned by 
the Commandant; 
‘‘(2) shall review and comment on proposed 
Coast Guard regulations and policies relating to per-
sonnel in the United States merchant marine, in-
cluding training, qualifications, certification, docu-
mentation, and fitness standards; 
‘‘(3) may be given special assignments by the 
Secretary and may conduct studies, inquiries, work-
shops, and fact finding in consultation with individ-
uals and groups in the private sector and with State 
or local governments; 
‘‘(4) shall advise, consult with, and make rec-
ommendations reflecting its independent judgment 
to the Secretary; 
‘‘(5) shall meet not less than twice each year; 
and 
‘‘(6) may make available to the Congress rec-
ommendations that the Committee makes to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall con-
sist of not more than 19 members who are appointed 
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by and serve terms of a duration determined by the 
Secretary. Before filling a position on the Com-
mittee, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the 
Federal Register soliciting nominations for member-
ship on the Committee. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED
MEMBERS.—The Secretary 
shall appoint as members of the Committee— 
‘‘(A) 9 United States citizens with active 
licenses or certificates issued under chapter 71 
or merchant mariner documents issued under 
chapter 73, including— 
‘‘(i) 3 deck officers who represent the 
viewpoint of merchant marine deck offi-
cers, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans 
any gross tons; 
‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed for in-
land river route with a limited or un-
limited tonnage; 
‘‘(III) 2 shall have a master’s li-
cense or a master of towing vessels li-
cense; 
‘‘(IV) 1 shall have significant 
tanker experience; and 
‘‘(V) to the extent practicable— 
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‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent the 
viewpoint of labor; and 
‘‘(bb) another shall rep-
resent a management perspective; 
‘‘(ii) 3 engineering officers who rep-
resent the viewpoint of merchant marine 
engineering officers, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief 
engineer any horsepower; 
‘‘(II) 1 shall be licensed as either 
a limited chief engineer or a des-
ignated duty engineer; and 
‘‘(III) to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(aa) 1 shall represent a 
labor viewpoint; and 
‘‘(bb) another shall rep-
resent a management perspective; 
‘‘(iii) 2 unlicensed seamen, of whom— 
‘‘(I) 1 shall represent the view-
point of able-bodied seamen; and 
‘‘(II) another shall represent the 
viewpoint of qualified members of the 
engine department; and 
‘‘(iv) 1 pilot who represents the view-
point of merchant marine pilots; 
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‘‘(B) 6 marine educators, including— 
‘‘(i) 3 marine educators who represent 
the viewpoint of maritime academies, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(I) 2 who represent the view-
point of State maritime academies 
and are jointly recommended by such 
State maritime academies; and 
‘‘(II) 1 who represents either the 
viewpoint of the State maritime acad-
emies or the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy; and 
‘‘(ii) 3 marine educators who rep-
resent the viewpoint of other maritime 
training institutions, 1 of whom shall rep-
resent the viewpoint of the small vessel in-
dustry; 
‘‘(C) 2 individuals who represent the view-
point of shipping companies employed in ship 
operation management; and 
‘‘(D) 2 members who are appointed from 
the general public. 
‘‘(c) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Com-
mittee shall elect one of its members as the Chairman and 
one of its members as the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chair-
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man shall act as Chairman in the absence or incapacity 
of the Chairman, or in the event of a vacancy in the office 
of the Chairman. 
‘‘(d) SUBCOMMITTEES.—The Committee may estab-
lish and disestablish subcommittees and working groups 
for any purpose consistent with this section, subject to 
conditions imposed by the Committee. Members of the 
Committee and additional persons drawn from the general 
public may be assigned to such subcommittees and work-
ing groups. Only Committee members may chair sub-
committee or working groups. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate 
on September 30, 2020.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘8108. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.’’. 
(b) COMPETITIVENESS OF THE U.S. MERCHANT MA-
RINE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Mer-
chant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee estab-
lished under the amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall— 
(A) review— 
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(i) the merchant mariner licensing, 
certification, and documentation programs 
and STCW Convention implementation 
programs of the 3 flag-states; and 
(ii) State maritime academy problems 
regarding implementation of the STCW 
Convention; and 
(B) report to the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard— 
(i) a description of each specific provi-
sion for which United States merchant 
mariner license, certification, and docu-
ment and STCW Convention implementa-
tion requirements are more stringent than 
the requirements of such flag-state pro-
grams, and a recommendation of whether 
such United States provision should be re-
tained, modified, or eliminated; 
(ii) a description of which United 
States merchant mariner license, certifi-
cation, and document evaluation require-
ments must be complied with separately 
from similar STCW Convention evaluation 
requirements, any statutory requirement 
for such separate compliance, and steps 
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that can be taken by the Coast Guard or 
by the Congress to minimize such redun-
dant requirements; and 
(iii) a description of problems State 
maritime academies are having in imple-
menting the STCW Convention and rec-
ommendations on how to address such 
problems. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Within 6 months 
from the date the Commandant receives the report 
under paragraph (1)(B), the Commandant shall for-
ward to the Congress a copy of the report with rec-
ommendations for actions to implement the report’s 
recommendations. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 3 FLAG STATES.—The term ‘‘3 flag 
states’’ means the 3 countries that are parties 
to the Annex to the International Maritime Or-
ganization Maritime Safety Committee Circular 
MSC.1/Circ.1163/Rev.8 dated January 7, 2013, 
and, of all such countries, have the greatest ves-
sel tonnage documented under the laws of each 
respective country. 
(B) 
STCW 
CONVENTION.—The 
term 
‘‘STCW Convention’’ means the amendments to 
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the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers, 1978 that entered into force on Jan-
uary 1, 2012. 
SEC. 320. REPORT ON EFFECT OF LNG EXPORT CARRIAGE 
REQUIREMENTS ON JOB CREATION IN THE 
UNITED STATES MARITIME INDUSTRY. 
No later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States 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 report on the number of jobs, including 
vessel construction and vessel operating jobs, that would 
be created in the United States maritime industry each 
year in 2015 through 2025 if liquified natural gas ex-
ported from the United States were required to be car-
ried— 
(1) before December 31, 2018, on vessels docu-
mented under the laws of the United States; and 
(2) after such date, on vessels documented 
under the laws of the United States and constructed 
in the United States. 
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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 each of fiscal years 
2015 and 2016. 
SEC. 402. 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-
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 
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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-
sioner of the Federal Maritime Commission appointed and 
confirmed by the Senate before the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
TITLE V—COMMERCIAL VESSEL 
DISCHARGE REFORM 
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Commercial Vessel 
Discharge Reform Act of 2014’’. 
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SEC. 502. DISCHARGES INCIDENTAL TO THE NORMAL OP-
ERATION OF CERTAIN VESSELS. 
Section 2(a) of Public Law 110–299 (33 U.S.C. 1342 
note) is amended by striking ‘‘during the period beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on 
December 18, 2014,’’. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET. 
Section 421 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–241; 120 Stat. 
547) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) only applies 
to a foreign citizen who holds a credential to serve 
as an officer on a fishing vessel or vessel of similar 
tonnage.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘An 
equivalent credential’’ and inserting ‘‘A creden-
tial’’; and 
(2) by striking subsections (c), (e), and (f) and 
redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c). 
SEC. 602. VESSEL DETERMINATION. 
The vessel assigned United States official number 
1205366 is deemed a new vessel effective on the date of 
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delivery of the vessel after January 1, 2012, from a pri-
vately owned United States shipyard, if no encumbrances 
are on record with the Coast Guard at the time of the 
issuance of the new certificate of documentation for the 
vessel. 
SEC. 603. LEASE AUTHORITY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may lease under section 93(a)(13) of title 14, 
United States Code, submerged lands and tidelands under 
the control of the Coast Guard without regard to the limi-
tation under that section with respect to lease duration. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Commandant may lease sub-
merged lands and tidelands under subsection (a) only if— 
(1) lease payments are— 
(A) received exclusively in the form of 
cash; 
(B) equal to the fair market value of the 
leased submerged lands or tidelands, as deter-
mined by the Commandant; and 
(C) deposited in the fund established under 
section 687 of title 14, United States Code; and 
(2) the lease does not provide authority to or 
commit the Coast Guard to use or support any im-
provements to such submerged lands or tidelands, or 
obtain goods or services from the lessee. 
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SEC. 604. NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, 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 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; 
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(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 
(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-
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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. 606. VALLEY VIEW FERRY. 
(a) EXEMPTION.—Section 8902 of title 46, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the vessel John Craig 
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(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. 
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 
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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. 
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. 
SEC. 609. FISHING SAFETY GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) FISHING SAFETY TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.— 
Section 4502(i)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is 
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