H. R. 3619—59 
(A) striking paragraphs (6) and (7) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(6) other equipment required to minimize the risk of injury 
to the crew during vessel operations, if the Secretary determines 
that a risk of serious injury exists that can be eliminated 
or mitigated by that equipment; and’’; and 
(B) redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (7); 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘documented’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘the Boundary 
Line’’ and inserting ‘‘3 nautical miles from the baseline 
from which the territorial sea of the United States is meas-
ured or beyond 3 nautical miles from the coastline of the 
Great Lakes’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘lifeboats or life-
rafts’’ and inserting ‘‘a survival craft that ensures that 
no part of an individual is immersed in water’’; 
(D) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting ‘‘marine’’ before 
‘‘radio’’; 
(E) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ‘‘radar reflectors, 
nautical charts, and anchors’’ and inserting ‘‘nautical 
charts, and publications’’; 
(F) in paragraph (2)(F), by striking ‘‘, including medi-
cine chests’’ and inserting ‘‘and medical supplies sufficient 
for the size and area of operation of the vessel’’; and 
(G) by amending paragraph (2)(G) to read as follows: 
‘‘(G) ground tackle sufficient for the vessel.’’; 
(3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) To ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter, 
the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) shall require the individual in charge of a vessel 
described in subsection (b) to keep a record of equipment 
maintenance, and required instruction and drills; and 
‘‘(2) shall examine at dockside a vessel described in sub-
section (b) at least once every 2 years, and shall issue a certifi-
cate of compliance to a vessel meeting the requirements of 
this chapter.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g)(1) The individual in charge of a vessel described in sub-
section (b) must pass a training program approved by the Secretary 
that meets the requirements in paragraph (2) of this subsection 
and hold a valid certificate issued under that program. 
‘‘(2) The training program shall— 
‘‘(A) be based on professional knowledge and skill obtained 
through sea service and hands-on training, including training 
in seamanship, stability, collision prevention, navigation, fire 
fighting and prevention, damage control, personal survival, 
emergency medical care, emergency drills, and weather; 
‘‘(B) require an individual to demonstrate ability to commu-
nicate in an emergency situation and understand information 
found in navigation publications; 
‘‘(C) recognize and give credit for recent past experience 
in fishing vessel operation; and 
‘‘(D) provide for issuance of a certificate to an individual 
that has successfully completed the program.
H. R. 3619—60 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations implementing 
this subsection. The regulations shall require that individuals who 
are issued a certificate under paragraph (2)(D) must complete 
refresher training at least once every 5 years as a condition of 
maintaining the validity of the certificate. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall establish a publicly accessible electronic 
database listing the names of individuals who have participated 
in and received a certificate confirming successful completion of 
a training program approved by the Secretary under this section. 
‘‘(h) A vessel to which this chapter applies shall be constructed 
in a manner that provides a level of safety equivalent to the 
minimum safety standards the Secretary may establish for rec-
reational vessels under section 4302, if— 
‘‘(1) subsection (b) of this section applies to the vessel; 
‘‘(2) the vessel is less than 50 feet overall in length; and 
‘‘(3) the vessel is built after January 1, 2010. 
‘‘(i)(1) The Secretary shall establish a Fishing Safety Training 
Grants Program to provide funding to municipalities, port authori-
ties, other appropriate public entities, not-for-profit organizations, 
and other qualified persons that provide commercial fishing safety 
training— 
‘‘(A) to conduct fishing vessel safety training for vessel 
operators and crewmembers that— 
‘‘(i) in the case of vessel operators, meets the require-
ments of subsection (g); and 
‘‘(ii) in the case of crewmembers, meets the require-
ments of subsection (g)(2)(A), such requirements of sub-
section (g)(2)(B) as are appropriate for crewmembers, and 
the requirements of subsections (g)(2)(D), (g)(3), and (g)(4); 
and 
‘‘(B) for purchase of safety equipment and training aids 
for use in those fishing vessel safety training programs. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection 
on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out 
with a grant under this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent. 
‘‘(4) There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for grants under this subsection. 
‘‘(j)(1) The Secretary shall establish a Fishing Safety Research 
Grant Program to provide funding to individuals in academia, mem-
bers of non-profit organizations and businesses involved in fishing 
and maritime matters, and other persons with expertise in fishing 
safety, to conduct research on methods of improving the safety 
of the commercial fishing industry, including vessel design, emer-
gency and survival equipment, enhancement of vessel monitoring 
systems, communications devices, de-icing technology, and severe 
weather detection. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection 
on a competitive basis. 
‘‘(3) The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out 
with a grant under this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent. 
‘‘(4) There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each 
fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for activities under this subsection.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4506(b) of title 46, 
United States Code, is repealed. 
(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
H. R. 3619—61 
(1) CHANGE OF NAME.—Section 4508 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 4508. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Industry Vessel’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.—Section 4508(b)(1) of that 
title is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘seventeen’’ and inserting ‘‘eighteen’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
‘‘from the commercial fishing industry who—’’ and 
inserting ‘‘who shall represent the commercial fishing 
industry and who—’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘an uninspected’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a’’; 
(C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(B) three members who shall represent the general public, 
including, whenever possible— 
‘‘(i) an independent expert or consultant in maritime 
safety; 
‘‘(ii) a marine surveyor who provides services to vessels 
to which this chapter applies; and 
‘‘(iii) a person familiar with issues affecting fishing 
communities and families of fishermen;’’; and 
(D) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
‘‘representing 
each 
of—’’ 
and inserting ‘‘each of whom shall represent—’’; 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or marine surveyors;’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and marine engineers;’’; 
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon at the end; 
(iv) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(v) owners of vessels to which this chapter applies.’’. 
(3) TERMINATION.—Section 4508(e)(1) of that title is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2010.’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2020.’’. 
(4) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 45 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to such section and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘4508. Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee.’’. 
(d) LOADLINES FOR VESSELS 79 FEET OR GREATER IN LENGTH.— 
(1) LIMITATION ON EXEMPTION FOR FISHING VESSELS.—Sec-
tion 5102(b)(3) of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after ‘‘vessel’’ the following ‘‘, unless the vessel 
is built after July 1, 2012’’. 
(2) ALTERNATE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN FISHING VESSELS.— 
Section 5103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
H. R. 3619—62 
‘‘(c) A fishing vessel built on or before July 1, 2012, that 
undergoes a substantial change to the dimension of or type of 
the vessel completed after the later of July 1, 2012, or the date 
the Secretary establishes standards for an alternate loadline compli-
ance program, shall comply with such an alternative loadline 
compliance program that is developed in cooperation with the 
commercial fishing industry and prescribed by the Secretary.’’. 
(e) CLASSING OF VESSELS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 4503 of title 46, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘§ 4503. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing vessel cer-
tification’’; 
(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘fish processing’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) This section applies to a vessel to which section 4502(b) 
of this title applies that is at least 50 feet overall in length and 
is built after July 1, 2012. 
‘‘(d)(1) After January 1, 2020, a fishing vessel, fish processing 
vessel, or fish tender vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title 
applies shall comply with an alternate safety compliance program 
that is developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing 
industry and prescribed by the Secretary, if the vessel— 
‘‘(A) is at least 50 feet overall in length; 
‘‘(B) is built before July 1, 2012; and 
‘‘(C) is 25 years of age or older. 
‘‘(2) A fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender 
vessel built before July 1, 2012, that undergoes a substantial change 
to the dimension of or type of vessel completed after the later 
of July 1, 2012, or the date the Secretary establishes standards 
for an alternate safety compliance program, shall comply with such 
an alternative safety compliance program that is developed in 
cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and prescribed 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) Alternative safety compliance programs may be developed 
for purposes of paragraph (1) for specific regions and fisheries. 
‘‘(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), vessels owned by a person 
that owns more than 30 vessels subject to that paragraph are 
not required to meet the alternate safety compliance requirements 
of that paragraph until January 1, 2030, if that owner enters 
into a compliance agreement with the Secretary that provides for 
a fixed schedule for all of the vessels owned by that person to 
meet requirements of that paragraph by that date and the vessel 
owner is meeting that schedule. 
‘‘(5) A fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or fish tender 
vessel to which section 4502(b) of this title applies that was classed 
before July 1, 2012, shall— 
‘‘(A) remain subject to the requirements of a classification 
society approved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) have on board a certificate from that society.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter 45 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to such section and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘4503. Fishing, fish tender, and fish processing vessel certification.’’.
H. R. 3619—63 
(f) ALTERNATIVE SAFETY COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.—No later than 
January 1, 2017, the Secretary of the department in which the 
Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe an alternative safety 
compliance program referred to in section 4503(d)(1) of the title 
46, United States Code, as amended by this section. 
SEC. 605. MARINER RECORDS. 
Section 7502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘The’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘computerized records’’ and inserting 
‘‘records, including electronic records,’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) The Secretary may prescribe regulations requiring a vessel 
owner or managing operator of a commercial vessel, or the employer 
of a seaman on that vessel, to maintain records of each individual 
engaged on the vessel subject to inspection under chapter 33 on 
matters of engagement, discharge, and service for not less than 
5 years after the date of the completion of the service of that 
individual on the vessel. The regulations may require that a vessel 
owner, managing operator, or employer shall make these records 
available to the individual and the Coast Guard on request. 
‘‘(c) A person violating this section, or a regulation prescribed 
under this section, is liable to the United States Government for 
a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.’’. 
SEC. 606. DELETION OF EXEMPTION OF LICENSE REQUIREMENT FOR 
OPERATORS OF CERTAIN TOWING VESSELS. 
Section 8905 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b). 
SEC. 607. LOG BOOKS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 113 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 11304. Additional logbook and entry requirements 
‘‘(a) A vessel of the United States that is subject to inspection 
under section 3301 of this title, except a vessel on a voyage from 
a port in the United States to a port in Canada, shall have an 
official logbook, which shall be kept available for review by the 
Secretary on request. 
‘‘(b) The log book required by subsection (a) shall include the 
following entries: 
‘‘(1) The time when each seaman and each officer assumed 
or relieved the watch. 
‘‘(2) The number of hours in service to the vessels of each 
seaman and each officer. 
‘‘(3) An account of each accident, illness, and injury that 
occurs during each watch.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘11304. Additional logbook and entry requirements.’’. 
SEC. 608. SAFE OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 46, United States Code, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new sections:
H. R. 3619—64 
‘‘§ 2117. Termination for unsafe operation 
‘‘An individual authorized to enforce this title— 
‘‘(1) may remove a certificate required by this title from 
a vessel that is operating in a condition that does not comply 
with the provisions of the certificate; 
‘‘(2) may order the individual in charge of a vessel that 
is operating that does not have on board the certificate required 
by this title to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain 
there until the vessel is in compliance with this title; and 
‘‘(3) may direct the individual in charge of a vessel to 
which this title applies to immediately take reasonable steps 
necessary for the safety of individuals on board the vessel 
if the official observes the vessel being operated in an unsafe 
condition that the official believes creates an especially haz-
ardous condition, including ordering the individual in charge 
to return the vessel to a mooring and to remain there until 
the situation creating the hazard is corrected or ended. 
‘‘§ 2118. Establishment of equipment standards 
‘‘(a) In establishing standards for approved equipment required 
on vessels subject to part B of this title, the Secretary shall establish 
standards that are— 
‘‘(1) based on performance using the best available tech-
nology that is economically achievable; and 
‘‘(2) operationally practical. 
‘‘(b) Using the standards established under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may also certify lifesaving equipment that is not required 
to be carried on vessels subject to part B of this title to ensure 
that such equipment is suitable for its intended purpose. 
‘‘(c) At least once every 10 years the Secretary shall review 
and revise the standards established under subsection (a) to ensure 
that the standards meet the requirements of this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘2117. Termination for unsafe operation. 
‘‘2118. Establishment of equipment standards.’’. 
SEC. 609. APPROVAL OF SURVIVAL CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3104. Survival craft 
‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary may 
not approve a survival craft as a safety device for purposes of 
this part, unless the craft ensures that no part of an individual 
is immersed in water. 
‘‘(b) The Secretary may authorize a survival craft that does 
not provide protection described in subsection (a) to remain in 
service until not later than January 1, 2015, if— 
‘‘(1) it was approved by the Secretary before January 1, 
2010; and 
‘‘(2) it is in serviceable condition.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘3104. Survival craft.’’.
H. R. 3619—65 
SEC. 610. SAFETY MANAGEMENT. 
(a) VESSELS TO WHICH REQUIREMENTS APPLY.—Section 3202 
of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking the heading and inserting 
‘‘FOREIGN VOYAGES AND FOREIGN VESSELS.—’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
(c) and (d), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: 
‘‘(b) OTHER PASSENGER VESSELS.—This chapter applies to a 
vessel that is— 
‘‘(1) a passenger vessel or small passenger vessel; and 
‘‘(2) is transporting more passengers than a number pre-
scribed by the Secretary based on the number of individuals 
on the vessel that could be killed or injured in a marine cas-
ualty.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’; and 
(5) in subsection (d)(4), as so redesignated, by inserting 
‘‘that is not described in subsection (b) of this section’’ after 
‘‘waters’’. 
(b) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.—Section 3203 of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(c) In prescribing regulations for passenger vessels and small 
passenger vessels, the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the characteristics, methods of operation, and nature 
of the service of these vessels; and 
‘‘(2) with respect to vessels that are ferries, the sizes of 
the ferry systems within which the vessels operate.’’. 
SEC. 611. PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2114 of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(2) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; 
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (a)(1) the following 
new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) the seaman testified in a proceeding brought to enforce 
a maritime safety law or regulation prescribed under that law; 
‘‘(D) the seaman notified, or attempted to notify, the vessel 
owner or the Secretary of a work-related personal injury or 
work-related illness of a seaman; 
‘‘(E) the seaman cooperated with a safety investigation 
by the Secretary or the National Transportation Safety Board; 
‘‘(F) the seaman furnished information to the Secretary, 
the National Transportation Safety Board, or any other public 
official as to the facts relating to any marine casualty resulting 
in injury or death to an individual or damage to property 
occurring in connection with vessel transportation; or 
‘‘(G) the seaman accurately reported hours of duty under 
this part.’’; and 
(4) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) A seaman alleging discharge or discrimination in violation 
of subsection (a) of this section, or another person at the seaman’s 
request, may file a complaint with respect to such allegation in
H. R. 3619—66 
the same manner as a complaint may be filed under subsection 
(b) of section 31105 of title 49. Such complaint shall be subject 
to the procedures, requirements, and rights described in that sec-
tion, including with respect to the right to file an objection, the 
right of a person to file for a petition for review under subsection 
(c) of that section, and the requirement to bring a civil action 
under subsection (d) of that section.’’. 
(b) EXISTING ACTIONS.—This section shall not affect the applica-
tion of section 2114(b) of title 46, United States Code, as in effect 
before the date of enactment of this Act, to an action filed under 
that section before that date. 
SEC. 612. OIL FUEL TANK PROTECTION. 
Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(k)(1) Each vessel of the United States that is constructed 
under a contract entered into after the date of enactment of the 
Maritime Safety Act of 2010, or that is delivered after January 
1, 2011, with an aggregate capacity of 600 cubic meters or more 
of oil fuel, shall comply with the requirements of Regulation 12A 
under Annex I to the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International 
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, entitled 
‘Oil Fuel Tank Protection’. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may prescribe regulations to apply the 
requirements described in Regulation 12A to vessels described in 
paragraph (1) that are not otherwise subject to that convention. 
Any such regulation shall be considered to be an interpretive rule 
for the purposes of section 553 of title 5. 
‘‘(3) In this subsection the term ‘oil fuel’ means any oil used 
as fuel in connection with the propulsion and auxiliary machinery 
of the vessel in which such oil is carried.’’. 
SEC. 613. OATHS. 
Section 7105 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘before a designated official’’. 
SEC. 614. DURATION OF LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND 
MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER’S DOCUMENTS.—Section 7302(f) of title 
46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) PERIODS OF VALIDITY AND RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARI-
NERS’ DOCUMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (g), 
a merchant mariner’s document issued under this chapter is 
valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 
5-year periods. 
‘‘(2) ADVANCE RENEWALS.—A renewed merchant mariner’s 
document may be issued under this chapter up to 8 months 
in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously 
issued merchant mariner’s document expires or until the 
completion of any active suspension or revocation of that pre-
viously issued merchant mariner’s document, whichever is 
later.’’. 
(b) DURATION
OF LICENSES.—Section 7106 of such title is 
amended to read as follows:
H. R. 3619—67 
‘‘§ 7106. Duration of licenses 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A license issued under this part is valid 
for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year 
periods; except that the validity of a license issued to a radio 
officer is conditioned on the continuous possession by the holder 
of a first-class or second-class radiotelegraph operator license issued 
by the Federal Communications Commission. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE RENEWALS.—A renewed license issued under this 
part may be issued up to 8 months in advance but is not effective 
until the date that the previously issued license expires or until 
the completion of any active suspension or revocation of that pre-
viously issued merchant mariner’s document, whichever is later.’’. 
(c) CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY.—Section 7107 of such title is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 7107. Duration of certificates of registry 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A certificate of registry issued under this 
part is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 
5-year periods; except that the validity of a certificate issued to 
a medical doctor or professional nurse is conditioned on the contin-
uous possession by the holder of a license as a medical doctor 
or registered nurse, respectively, issued by a State. 
‘‘(b) ADVANCE RENEWALS.—A renewed certificate of registry 
issued under this part may be issued up to 8 months in advance 
but is not effective until the date that the previously issued certifi-
cate of registry expires or until the completion of any active suspen-
sion or revocation of that previously issued merchant mariner’s 
document, whichever is later.’’. 
SEC. 615. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF LICENSES, 
CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND MERCHANT MARINERS’ 
DOCUMENTS. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES AND DOCUMENTS.—Chapter 
75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 7507. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certifi-
cates of registry, and merchant mariner documents 
‘‘(a) LICENSES
AND
CERTIFICATES
OF
REGISTRY.—Notwith-
standing sections 7106 and 7107, the Secretary of the department 
in which the Coast Guard is operating may— 
‘‘(1) extend for not more than one year an expiring license 
or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 
73 if the Secretary determines that the extension is required 
to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing 
applications for those licenses or certificates of registry or in 
response to a national emergency or natural disaster, as deemed 
necessary by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(2) issue for not more than five years an expiring license 
or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 
73 for the exclusive purpose of aligning the expiration date 
of such license or certificate of registry with the expiration 
date of a merchant mariner’s document. 
‘‘(b) MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 7302(g), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) extend for not more than one year an expiring mer-
chant mariner’s document issued for an individual under