‘‘(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, 
2013, if— 
‘‘(1) it was approved by the Secretary before 
January 1, 2008; and 
‘‘(2) it is in serviceable condition.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of that title is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘3104. Survival craft.’’. 
SEC. 315. SAFETY MANAGEMENT. 
(a) VESSELS TO WHICH REQUIREMENTS APPLY.— 
Section 3202 of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) OTHER PASSENGER VESSELS.—This chapter 
applies to a vessel that is— 
‘‘(1) a passenger vessel or small passenger ves-
sel; and
‘‘(2) is transporting more passengers than a 
number prescribed by the Secretary based on the 
number of individuals on the vessel that could be 
killed or injured in a marine casualty.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(c)’’; 
(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 con-
sider— 
‘‘(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. 316. 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 semicolon; 
(2) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking the pe-
riod 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 regula-
tion prescribed under that law; 
‘‘(D) the seaman notified, or attempted to no-
tify, the vessel owner or the Secretary of a work-re-
lated personal injury or work-related illness of a sea-
man; 
‘‘(E) the seaman cooperated with a safety in-
vestigation by the Secretary or the National Trans-
portation Safety Board; 
‘‘(F) the seaman furnished information to the 
Secretary, the National Transportation Safety 
Board, or any other public official as to the facts re-
lating to any marine casualty resulting in injury or 
death to an individual or damage to property occur-
ring 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 fol-
lows: 
‘‘(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 the same manner as a com-
plaint may be filed under subsection (b) of section 31105 
of title 49. Such complaint shall be subject to the proce-
dures, requirements, and rights described in that section, 
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 application 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. 317. DRY BULK CARGO RESIDUE. 
Section 623(a)(2) of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 1901 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2008’’ and inserting ‘‘2011’’.
SEC. 318. OIL FUEL TANK PROTECTION. 
Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(k)(1) Each vessel of the United States that is con-
structed under a contract entered into after the date of 
enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2008, 
or that is delivered after August 1, 2010, with an aggre-
gate 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 Inter-
national 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 aux-
iliary machinery of the vessel in which such oil is carried.’’. 
SEC. 319. REGISTRY ENDORSEMENT FOR LNG VESSELS. 
Section 12111 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d)(1) A vessel for which a registry endorsement is 
not issued may not engage in regasifying on navigable wa-
ters unless the vessel transported the gas from a foreign 
port. 
‘‘(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) or any other provision 
of this title may be construed as— 
‘‘(A) applying to such paragraph a definition of 
the term ‘vessel’ that includes any structure on, in, 
or under the navigable waters of the United States 
that the Coast Guard regulates as a waterfront facil-
ity handling liquified natural gas under part 127 of 
title 33, Code of Federal Regulations; or 
‘‘(B) having any effect on the jurisdiction of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under sec-
tion 3(e)(1) of the Natural Gas Act. 
‘‘(3) Paragraph (2)(A) does not affect the authority 
of the Coast Guard to modify the provisions of part 127 
of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 
SEC. 320. OATHS. 
Sections 7105 and 7305 of title 46, United States 
Code, and the items relating to such sections in the anal-
ysis for chapters 71 and 73 of such title, are repealed.
SEC. 321. DURATION OF CREDENTIALS. 
(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 MER-
CHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (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 mer-
chant mariner’s document may be issued under this 
chapter up to 8 months in advance but is not effec-
tive until the date that the previously issued mer-
chant mariner’s document expires.’’. 
(b) DURATION OF LICENSES.—Section 7106 of such 
title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 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 addi-
tional 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 ra-
diotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Com-
munications 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 pre-
viously issued license expires.’’. 
(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 va-
lidity of a certificate issued to a medical doctor or profes-
sional nurse is conditioned on the continuous 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 certificate of registry expires.’’. 
SEC. 322. FINGERPRINTING. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES
AND DOCU-
MENTS.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 7507. Fingerprinting 
‘‘The Secretary of the Department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may not require an individual to be
fingerprinted for the issuance or renewal of a license, a 
certificate of registry, or a merchant mariner’s document 
under chapter 71 or 73 if the individual was fingerprinted 
when the individual applied for a transportation security 
card under section 70105.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7507. Fingerprinting.’’. 
SEC. 323. AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF 
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND 
MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS. 
(a) MERCHANT MARINER LICENSES
AND DOCU-
MENTS.—Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, as 
amended by section 322(a) of this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 7508. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, 
certificates of registry, and merchant 
mariner documents 
‘‘(a) LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY.— 
Notwithstanding sections 7106 and 7107, the Secretary 
of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 
may extend for one year an expiring license or certificate 
of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if 
the Secretary determines that extension is required to en-
able the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing 
applications for those licenses or certificates of registry.
‘‘(b) MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS.—Notwith-
standing section 7302(g), the Secretary may extend for 
one year an expiring merchant mariner’s document issued 
for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary deter-
mines that extension is required to enable the Coast Guard 
to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for those 
documents. 
‘‘(c) MANNER
OF
EXTENSION.—Any extensions 
granted under this section may be granted to individual 
seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen. 
‘‘(d) EXPIRATION
OF AUTHORITY.—The authority 
for providing an extension under this section shall expire 
on June 30, 2009.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter, as amended by section 322(b), is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘7508. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and 
merchant mariner documents.’’. 
SEC. 324. MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTATION. 
(a) INTERIM CLEARANCE PROCESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall develop an interim clearance process for 
issuance of a merchant mariner document to enable a 
newly hired seaman to begin working on an offshore sup-
ply vessel or towing vessel if the Secretary makes an initial
determination that the seaman does not pose a safety and 
security risk. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF PROCESS.—The process under 
subsection (a) shall include a check against the consoli-
dated and integrated terrorist watch list maintained by the 
Federal Government, review of the seaman’s criminal 
record, and review of the results of testing the seaman 
for use of a dangerous drug (as defined in section 2101 
of title 46, United States Code) in violation of law or Fed-
eral regulation. 
SEC. 325. MERCHANT MARINER ASSISTANCE REPORT. 
Not later than 180 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 report regarding a plan— 
(1) to expand the streamlined evaluation proc-
ess program that was affiliated with the Houston 
Regional Examination Center of the Coast Guard to 
all processing centers of the Coast Guard nation-
wide; 
(2) to include proposals to simplify the applica-
tion process for a license as an officer, staff officer, 
or operator and for a merchant mariner’s document
to help eliminate errors by merchant mariners when 
completing the application form (CG–719B), includ-
ing instructions attached to the application form and 
a modified application form for renewals with ques-
tions pertaining only to the period of time since the 
previous application; 
(3) to provide notice to an applicant of the sta-
tus of the pending application, including a process to 
allow the applicant to check on the status of the ap-
plication by electronic means; and 
(4) to ensure that all information collected with 
respect to applications for new or renewed licenses, 
merchant mariner documents, and certificates of 
registry is retained in a secure electronic format. 
SEC. 326. MERCHANT MARINER SHORTAGE REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Administrator of the Maritime Administra-
tion, 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 concerning methods to address the 
current and future shortage in the number of merchant 
mariners, particularly entry-level mariners, including an 
evaluation of whether an educational loan program pro-
viding loans for the cost of on-the-job training would pro-
vide an incentive for workers and help alleviate the short-
age. 
SEC. 327. MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENT STANDARDS. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, 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 Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate— 
(1) a plan to ensure that the process for an ap-
plication, by an individual who has, or has applied 
for, a transportation security card under section 
70105 of title 46, United States Code, for a mer-
chant mariner document can be completed entirely 
by mail; and 
(2) a report on the feasibility of, and a timeline 
to, redesign the merchant mariner document to com-
ply with the requirements of such section, including 
a biometric identifier, and all relevant international 
conventions, including the International Labour Or-
ganization Convention Number 185 concerning the 
seafarers identity document, and include a review on 
whether or not such redesign will eliminate the need
for separate credentials and background screening 
and streamline the application process for mariners. 
SEC. 328. REPORT ON COAST GUARD DETERMINATIONS. 
Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide 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 the loss of United States shipyard jobs and industrial 
base expertise as a result of rebuild, conversion, and dou-
ble-hull work on United States-flag vessels eligible to en-
gage in the coastwise trade being performed in foreign 
shipyards, enforcement of the Coast Guard’s foreign re-
build determination regulations, and recommendations for 
improving the transparency in the Coast Guard’s foreign 
rebuild determination process. 
SEC. 329. PILOT REQUIRED. 
Section 8502(g) of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and Buz-
zards Bay, Massachusetts’’ before ‘‘, if any,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) In any area of Buzzards Bay, Massachu-
setts, where a single-hull tanker or tank vessel car-
rying 5,000 or more barrels of oil or other haz-
ardous material is required to be under the direction 
and control of a pilot, the pilot may not be a mem-
ber of the crew of that vessel, and shall be a pilot 
licensed— 
‘‘(A) by the State of Massachusetts who is 
operating under a Federal first class pilot’s li-
cense; or 
‘‘(B) under section 7101 of this title who 
has made at least 20 round trips on a vessel as 
a quartermaster, wheelsman, able seaman, or 
apprentice pilot, or in an equivalent capacity, 
including— 
‘‘(i) at least 1 round trip through 
Buzzards Bay in the preceding 12-month 
period; and 
‘‘(ii) if the vessel will be navigating in 
periods of darkness in an area of Buzzards 
Bay where a vessel is required by regula-
tion to have a pilot, at least 5 round trips 
through Buzzards Bay during periods of 
darkness.’’. 
SEC. 330. OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 2101(19) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘of more than 
15 gross tons but less than 500 gross tons as measured
100 
under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage 
measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed 
by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title’’. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—Section 5209(b)(1) of the Oceans 
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–587; 46 U.S.C. 2101 note) 
is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘of less than 500 gross tons as measured under 
section 14502, or an alternate tonnage measured under 
section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary 
under section 14104 of this title.’’. 
(c) WATCHES.—Section 8104 of title 46, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (g), by inserting after ‘‘off-
shore supply vessel’’ the following: ‘‘of less than 500 
gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this 
title, or an alternate tonnage measured under sec-
tion 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Sec-
retary under section 14104 of this title,’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after 
‘‘(d)’’, and by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to an offshore sup-
ply vessel of more than 6,000 gross tons as measured 
under section 14302 of this title if the individuals engaged 
on the vessel are in compliance with hours of service re-
101 
quirements (including recording and record-keeping of 
that service) prescribed by the Secretary.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (d)(1)’’. 
(d) MINIMUM
NUMBER
OF
LICENSED
INDIVID-
UALS.—Section 8301(b) of title 46, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b)(1) An offshore supply vessel shall have at least 
one mate. Additional mates on an offshore supply vessel 
of more than 6,000 gross tons as measured under section 
14302 of this title shall be prescribe in accordance with 
hours of service requirements (including recording and 
record-keeping of that service) prescribed by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) An offshore supply vessel of more than 200 
gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, 
or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of 
this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 
14104 of this title, may not be operated without a licensed 
engineer.’’. 
SEC. 331. RECREATIONAL VESSEL OPERATOR EDUCATION 
AND TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating shall study
102 
and report to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate regarding recreational vessel operator training. 
The study and report shall included a review of— 
(1) Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron 
training programs; 
(2) existing State boating education programs, 
including programs by the National Association of 
State Boating Law Administrators (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘NASBLA’’); and 
(3) other hands-on training programs available 
to recreational vessel operators. 
(b) INCLUDED SUBJECTS.—The study shall specifi-
cally examine— 
(1) course materials; 
(2) course content; 
(3) training methodology; 
(4) assessment methodology; and 
(5) relevancy of course content to risks for rec-
reational boaters. 
(c) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report under this 
section shall include— 
(1) a section regarding steps the Coast Guard 
and NASBLA have taken to encourage States to
103 
adopt mandatory recreational vessel operator train-
ing; 
(2) an evaluation of the ability of the States to 
harmonize their education programs and testing pro-
cedures; 
(3) an analysis of the extent States have pro-
vided reciprocity among the States for their respec-
tive mandatory and voluntary education require-
ments and programs; 
(4) a section examining the level of uniformity 
of education and training between the States that 
currently have mandatory education and training 
programs; 
(5) a section outlining the minimum standards 
for education of recreational vessel operators; 
(6) a section analyzing how a Federal training 
and testing program can be harmonized with State 
training and testing programs; 
(7) analysis of course content and delivery 
methodology for relevancy to risks for recreational 
boaters; 
(8) a description of the current phase-in periods 
for mandatory boater education in State mandatory 
education programs and recommendation for the 
phase-in period for a mandatory boater education
104 
program including an evaluation as to whether the 
phase-in period affects course availability and cost; 
(9) a description of the extent States allow for 
experienced boaters to by-pass mandatory education 
courses and go directly to testing; 
(10) recommendations for a by-pass option for 
experienced boaters; 
(11) a section analyzing how the Coast Guard 
would administer a Federal boating education, train-
ing, and testing program; and 
(12) the extent to which a Federal boating edu-
cation, training, and testing program should be re-
quired for all waters of a State, including internal 
waters. 
SEC. 332. SHIP EMISSION REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commandant of the Coast Guard 
shall conduct a study— 
(1) on the methods and best practices of the 
use of exhaust emissions reduction technology on 
cargo or passenger ships that operate in United 
States waters and ports; and 
(2) that identifies the Federal, State, and local 
laws, regulations, and other requirements that affect 
the ability of any entity to effectively demonstrate
105 
onboard technology for the reduction of contami-
nated emissions from ships. 
(b) REPORT.—Within 180 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit a re-
port on the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a) 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. 
SEC. 333. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO CLASSIFICATION 
SOCIETIES REGARDING OFFSHORE FACILI-
TIES. 
Section 3316 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary may delegate to the American 
Bureau of Shipping or another classification society recog-
nized by the Secretary as meeting acceptable standards 
for such a society, for a United States offshore facility, 
the authority to— 
‘‘(A) review and approve plans required for 
issuing a certificate of inspection or certificate of 
compliance; and 
‘‘(B) conduct inspections and examinations.
106 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may make a delegation under 
paragraph (1) to a foreign classification society only if the 
foreign classification society has offices and maintains 
records in the United States and— 
‘‘(A) if the government of the foreign country 
in which the society is headquartered delegates that 
authority to the American Bureau of Shipping; or 
‘‘(B) to the extent the government of the for-
eign country accepts plan review, inspections, or ex-
aminations conducted by the American Bureau of 
Shipping and provides equivalent access to inspect, 
certify, and provide related services to offshore facili-
ties located in that country or operating under the 
authority of that country. 
‘‘(3) When an inspection or examination has been del-
egated under this subsection, the Secretary’s delegate— 
‘‘(A) shall maintain in the United States com-
plete files of all information derived from or nec-
essarily connected with the inspection or examina-
tion for at least 2 years after the United States off-
shore facility ceases to be certified; and 
‘‘(B) shall permit access to those files at all 
reasonable times to any officer, employee, or mem-
ber of the Coast Guard designated—
107 
‘‘(i) as a marine inspector and serving in 
a position as a marine inspector; or 
‘‘(ii) in writing by the Secretary to have 
access to those files. 
‘‘(4) For purposes of this section— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘offshore facility’ means any in-
stallation, structure, or other device (including any 
vessel not documented under chapter 121 of this 
title or the laws of another country) that is fixed or 
floating, dynamically holds position or is temporarily 
or permanently attached to the seabed or subsoil 
under the sea, and is used for the purpose of explor-
ing for, developing, producing, or storing the re-
sources from that seabed or subsoil; and 
‘‘(B) the term ‘United States offshore facility’ 
means any offshore facility, fixed or floating, that 
dynamically holds position or is temporarily or per-
manently attached to the seabed or subsoil under the 
territorial sea of the United States or the outer Con-
tinental Shelf (as that term is defined in section 2 
of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1331)).’’.
108 
SEC. 334. REQUIREMENT FOR PILOTS TO CARRY AND UTI-
LIZE PORTABLE ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL 
DEVICE. 
The Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 
1221 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 4A 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 4B. PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR NAVIGA-
TION PURPOSES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commandant of the Coast 
Guard may issue regulations that— 
‘‘(1) require that any pilot licensed under sub-
title II of title 46, United States Code, while serving 
under the authority of that license as pilot on a cov-
ered vessel operating in waters designated in the 
regulation shall carry and utilize a portable elec-
tronic device that is— 
‘‘(A) equipped for navigational purposes; 
and 
‘‘(B) capable of being connected to an 
Automatic Identification System; and 
‘‘(2) require such pilots to obtain training in 
the use of such electronic devices, and prescribe re-
quirements for such training after consultation with 
State or local pilotage authorities on specific equip-
ment and practices in the waters designated in the 
regulation.
109 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NEED.—The Commandant 
shall consult with State or local pilotage authorities for 
the waters covered by the regulations to determine if the 
carriage and use of such portable electronic devices would 
improve safe navigation under local conditions and wheth-
er there is a need for mandatory carriage requirements. 
‘‘(c) COVERED VESSEL DEFINED.—In this section 
the term ‘covered vessel’ means a self-propelled commer-
cial vessel of 300 gross tons or more that does not have 
an electronic chart prescribed under section 4A.’’. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 401. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR GALLANT 
LADY. 
Section 1120(c) of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 3977) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘of Transportation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating’’; and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(A) 
the 
vessel 
GALLANT 
LADY 
(Feadship hull number 672, approximately 168 
feet in length).’’;
110 
(2) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and re-
designating paragraph (5) as paragraph (3); and 
(3) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) by 
striking all after ‘‘shall expire’’ and inserting ‘‘on 
the date of the sale of the vessel by the owner.’’. 
SEC. 402. WAIVER. 
Notwithstanding section 12112 and chapter 551 of 
title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of the depart-
ment in which the Coast Guard is operating may issue 
a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorse-
ment for the OCEAN VERITAS (IMO Number 
7366805). 
SEC. 403. GREAT LAKES MARITIME RESEARCH INSTITUTE. 
Section 605 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Trans-
portation Act of 2004 (118 Stat. 1052) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Trans-
portation shall conduct a study that’’ and in-
serting ‘‘The Institute shall conduct maritime 
transportation studies of the Great Lakes re-
gion, including studies that’’; 
(B) in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (E), 
(F), (H), (I), and (J) by striking ‘‘evaluates’’ 
and inserting ‘‘evaluate’’;
111 
(C) in subparagraphs (D) and (G) by 
striking ‘‘analyzes’’ and inserting ‘‘analyze’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (I); 
(E) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (J) and inserting a semicolon; 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(K) identify ways to improve the integra-
tion of the Great Lakes marine transportation 
system into the national transportation system; 
‘‘(L) examine the potential of expanded op-
erations on the Great Lakes marine transpor-
tation system; 
‘‘(M) identify ways to include intelligent 
transportation applications into the Great 
Lakes marine transportation system; 
‘‘(N) analyze the effects and impacts of 
aging infrastructure and port corrosion on the 
Great Lakes marine transportation system; 
‘‘(O) establish and maintain a model Great 
Lakes marine transportation system database; 
and 
‘‘(P) identify market opportunities for, and 
impediments to, the use of United States-flag
112 
vessels in trade with Canada on the Great 
Lakes.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b)(4) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(B) $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(C) $2,400,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 
‘‘(D) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.’’. 
SEC. 404. CONVEYANCE. 
(a) STATION BRANT POINT BOAT HOUSE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall convey to the town of Nantucket, Massachu-
setts, all right, title, and interest of the United 
States in and to the buildings known as the Station 
Brant Point Boat House located at Coast Guard 
Station Brant Point, Nantucket, Massachusetts, for 
use for a public purpose. 
(2) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.—A conveyance of 
the building under paragraph (1) shall be made— 
(A) without the payment of consideration; 
and
113 
(B) subject to appropriate terms and con-
ditions the Secretary considers necessary. 
(3) REVERSIONARY INTEREST.—All right, title, 
and interest in property conveyed under this sub-
section shall revert to the United States if any por-
tion of the property is used other than for a public 
purpose. 
(b) LEASE.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the de-
partment in which the Coast Guard is operating 
shall enter into a lease with the town of Nantucket 
that authorizes the town of Nantucket to occupy the 
land on which the buildings conveyed under sub-
section (a) are located, subject to appropriate terms 
and conditions the Secretary considers necessary. 
(2) LEASE
TERM.—A lease under this sub-
section shall not expire before January 31, 2033. 
(3) TERMINATION OF LEASE.—If the Secretary 
determines that the property leased under paragraph 
(1) is necessary for purposes of the Coast Guard, 
the Secretary— 
(A) may terminate the lease without pay-
ment of compensation; and 
(B) shall provide the town of Nantucket 
not less than 12 months notice of the require-
114 
ment to vacate the site and move the buildings 
conveyed under subsection (a) to another loca-
tion. 
SEC. 405. CREW WAGES ON PASSENGER VESSELS. 
(a) FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES.— 
(1) 
CAP
ON
PENALTY
WAGES.—Section 
10313(g) of title 46, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking ‘‘When’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
Subject to paragraph (2), when’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The total amount required to be paid under 
paragraph (1) with respect to all claims in a class action 
suit by seamen on a passenger vessel capable of carrying 
more than 500 passengers for wages under this section 
against a vessel master, owner, or operator or the em-
ployer of the seamen shall not exceed ten times the unpaid 
wages that are the subject of the claims. 
‘‘(3) A class action suit for wages under this sub-
section must be commenced within three years after the 
later of— 
‘‘(A) the date of the end of the last voyage for 
which the wages are claimed; or 
‘‘(B) the receipt, by a seaman who is a claimant 
in the suit, of a payment of wages that are the sub-
115 
ject of the suit that is made in the ordinary course 
of employment.’’. 
(2) DEPOSITS.—Section 10315 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) DEPOSITS IN SEAMAN ACCOUNT.—By written 
request signed by the seaman, a seaman employed on a 
passenger vessel capable of carrying more than 500 pas-
sengers may authorize the master, owner, or operator of 
the vessel, or the employer of the seaman, to make depos-
its of wages of the seaman into a checking, savings, invest-
ment, or retirement account, or other account to secure 
a payroll or debit card for the seaman if— 
‘‘(1) the wages designated by the seaman for 
such deposit are deposited in a United States or 
international financial institution designated by the 
seaman; 
‘‘(2) such deposits in the financial institution 
are fully guaranteed under commonly accepted inter-
national standards by the government of the country 
in which the financial institution is licensed; 
‘‘(3) a written wage statement or pay stub, in-
cluding an accounting of any direct deposit, is deliv-
ered to the seaman no less often than monthly; and 
‘‘(4) while on board the vessel on which the sea-
man is employed, the seaman is able to arrange for
116 
withdrawal of all funds on deposit in the account in 
which the wages are deposited.’’. 
(b) COASTWISE VOYAGES.— 
(1) 
CAP
ON
PENALTY
WAGES.—Section 
10504(c) of such title is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘When’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
Subject to subsection (d), and except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), when’’; and 
(B) by inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The total amount required to be paid under 
paragraph (1) with respect to all claims in a class action 
suit by seamen on a passenger vessel capable of carrying 
more than 500 passengers for wages under this section 
against a vessel master, owner, or operator or the em-
ployer of the seamen shall not exceed ten times the unpaid 
wages that are the subject of the claims. 
‘‘(3) A class action suit for wages under this sub-
section must be commenced within three years after the 
later of— 
‘‘(A) the date of the end of the last voyage for 
which the wages are claimed; or 
‘‘(B) the receipt, by a seaman who is a claimant 
in the suit, of a payment of wages that are the sub-
ject of the suit that is made in the ordinary course 
of employment.’’.
117 
(2) DEPOSITS.—Section 10504 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) DEPOSITS IN SEAMAN ACCOUNT.—On written 
request signed by the seaman, a seaman employed on a 
passenger vessel capable of carrying more than 500 pas-
sengers may authorize, the master, owner, or operator of 
the vessel, or the employer of the seaman, to make depos-
its of wages of the seaman into a checking, savings, invest-
ment, or retirement account, or other account to secure 
a payroll or debit card for the seaman if— 
‘‘(1) the wages designated by the seaman for 
such deposit are deposited in a United States or 
international financial institution designated by the 
seaman; 
‘‘(2) such deposits in the financial institution 
are fully guaranteed under commonly accepted inter-
national standards by the government of the country 
in which the financial institution is licensed; 
‘‘(3) a written wage statement or pay stub, in-
cluding an accounting of any direct deposit, is deliv-
ered to the seaman no less often than monthly; and 
‘‘(4) while on board the vessel on which the sea-
man is employed, the seaman is able to arrange for 
withdrawal of all funds on deposit in the account in 
which the wages are deposited.’’.
118 
SEC. 406. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION 
ACT OF 2006.—Effective with enactment of the Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Public 
Law 109–241), such Act is amended— 
(1) in section 311(b) (120 Stat. 530) by insert-
ing ‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2) of’’ before ‘‘section 
8104(o)’’; 
(2) in section 603(a)(2) (120 Stat. 554) by 
striking ‘‘33 U.S.C. 2794(a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘33 
U.S.C. 2704(a)(2)’’; 
(3) in section 901(r)(2) (120 Stat. 566) by 
striking ‘‘the’’ the second place it appears; 
(4) in section 902(c) (120 Stat. 566) by insert-
ing ‘‘of the United States’’ after ‘‘Revised Statutes’’; 
(5) in section 902(e) (120 Stat. 567) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon 
at the end of paragraph (1); 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (2)(A); and 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph 
(2), respectively, and aligning the left margin of 
such subparagraphs with the left margin of 
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2);
119 
(6) in section 902(e)(2)(C) (as so redesignated) 
by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting ‘‘this para-
graph’’; 
(7) in section 902(e)(2)(D) (as so redesignated) 
by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting ‘‘this para-
graph’’; 
(8) in section 902(h)(1) (120 Stat. 567)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Bisti/De-Na-Zin’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘Protection’’ and inserting 
‘‘Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Manage-
ment’’; and 
(B) by inserting a period after ‘‘Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard’’; 
(9) in section 902(k) (120 Stat. 568) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘the Act of March 23, 
1906, commonly known as’’ before ‘‘the General 
Bridge’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘491)’’ and inserting 
‘‘494),’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘each place it appears’’ 
before ‘‘and inserting’’; and 
(10) in section 902(o) (120 Stat. 569) by strik-
ing the period after ‘‘Homeland Security’’.
120 
(b) TITLE 14.—(1) The analysis for chapter 7 of title 
14, United States Code, is amended by adding a period 
at the end of the item relating to section 149. 
(2) The analysis for chapter 17 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding a period at the end 
of the item relating to section 677. 
(3) The analysis for chapter 9 of title 14, United 
States Code, is amended by adding a period at the end 
of the item relating to section 198. 
(c) TITLE 46.—(1) The analysis for chapter 81 of 
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding a pe-
riod at the end of the item relating to section 8106. 
(2) Section 70105(c)(3)(C) of such title is amended 
by striking ‘‘National Intelligence Director’’ and inserting 
‘‘Director of National Intelligence’’. 
(d) DEEPWATER
PORT
ACT
OF
1974.—Section 
5(c)(2) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 
1504(c)(2)) is amended by aligning the left margin of sub-
paragraph (K) with the left margin of subparagraph (L). 
(e) OIL POLLUTION ACT
OF 1990.—(1) Section 
1004(a)(2) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
2704(a)(2)) is amended by striking the first comma fol-
lowing ‘‘$800,000’’.
121 
(2) The table of sections in section 2 of such Act is 
amended by inserting a period at the end of the item relat-
ing to section 7002. 
(f) COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1996.— 
The table of sections in section 2 of the Coast Guard Au-
thorization Act of 1996 is amended in the item relating 
to section 103 by striking ‘‘reports’’ and inserting ‘‘re-
port’’. 
SEC. 407. CONVEYANCE OF DECOMMISSIONED COAST 
GUARD CUTTER STORIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon the scheduled decommis-
sioning of the Coast Guard Cutter STORIS, the Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard shall convey, without consid-
eration, all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to that vessel to the USCG Cutter STORIS Mu-
seum and Maritime Education Center, LLC, located in the 
State of Alaska if the recipient— 
(1) agrees— 
(A) to use the vessel for purposes of a mu-
seum and historical display; 
(B) not to use the vessel for commercial 
transportation purposes; 
(C) to make the vessel available to the 
United States Government if needed for use by