Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1982
PL 97-322 (S.2252), enacted 10/15/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-^22—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1581 
Public Law 97-^22 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 1983 and 1984, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I 
SEC. 101. This title may be cited as the "Coast Guard Authoriza-
tion Act of 1982". 
SEC. 102. Funds are authorized to be appropriated for necessary 
expenses of the Coast Guard for fiscal years 1983 and 1984 as 
follows: 
(1) For the operation and maintenance of the Coast Guard, 
including expenses related to the Capehart housing debt reduc-
tion, $1,800,000,000 for fiscal vear 1983 and $2,000,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1984, and such additional amounts for each such 
fiscal year as may be necessary for increases in salary, pay, and 
other employee benefits authorized by law. 
(2) For the acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improve-
ment of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels, and aircraft, 
including equipment related thereto, $550,000,000 for fiscal year 
1983 and $650,000,000 for fiscal year 1984. 
(3) For research, development, test, and evaluation, 
$22,000,000 for fiscal year 1983 and $32,000,000 for fiscal year 
1984, of which sufficient funds shall be made available to con-
tinue in operation a Coast Guard research and development 
center through the end of fiscal year 1984. 
(4) For the alteration or removal of bridges over navigable 
waters of the United States, constituting obstructions to naviga-
tion, $8,000,000, for fiscal year 1983. 
(5) For retired pay including the payment of obligations there-
for otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for this pur-
pose, and payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family 
Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and for payments for 
medical care of retired personnel and their dependents under 
the Dependents' Medical Care Act, such sums as may be neces-
sary for fiscal years 1983 and 1984. 
SEC. 103. For fiscal years 1983 and 1984, the Coast Guard is 
authorized an end-of-year strength for active duty personnel of 
forty-one thousand five hundred. This end-of-year strength shall not 
include members of the Ready Reserve called to active duty under 
the authority of section 712 of title 14, United States Code. 
SEC. 104. For fiscal years 1983 and 1984, the Coast Guard is 
authorized average military training student loads as follows: 
(1) For recruit and special training, three thousand six hun-
dred and sixty student-years. 
(2) For flight training, one hundred and eighteen student-
years. 
Oct. 15, 1982 
[S. 2252] 
Coast Guard, 
appropriation 
authorization for 
FY 1983 and 
1984. 
Coast Guard 
Authorization 
Act of 1982. 
70 Stat. 250. 
Average 
military training 
student loads. 
96 STAT. 1582 
PUBLIC LAW 97-322—OCT. 15, 1982 
Report to 
Congress. 
14 u s e 81 note. 
Contracts, 
authority. 
14 u s e 81 note. 
(3) For professional training in military and civilian institu-
tions, six hundred and 
fifty-five 
student-years. 
(4> For officer acquisition, one thousand thirty-eight student-
years. 
SEC. 105. (a) Section 81 of title 14, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following: "The Coast Guard may 
establish, maintain, and operate aids to maritime navigation under 
paragraph (1) of this section by contract with any person, public 
body, or instrumentality.". 
(b) Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this 
title, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating shall submit a report to the Congress evaluating— 
(1) the exercise by contract of the authority of the Coast 
Guard under section 81 of title 14, United States Code, to 
establish, maintain, and operate aids to navigation, including a 
discussion of any problems involved in exercising such authority 
by contract, the reasons for exercising or failing to exercise such 
authority by contract in particular areas, and the feasibility of 
expanding the exercise of such authority by contract; and 
(2) the advantages and disadvantages of increasing the ratio 
of civilian to military employees assigned to the establishment, 
maintenance, and operation of aids to navigation on the inland 
waterways of the United States. 
(c) Any authority to enter into contracts provided in this section 
shall be available only to the extent that appropriated funds are 
available for that purpose. 
SEC. 106. Subsections (e) and (f) of section 475 of title 14, United 
States Code, are repealed. 
SEC. 107. (a) Section 502(b) of the General Bridge Act of 1946 (33 
U.S.C. 525(b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"This subsection shall not apply to any bridge over waters which are 
not subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used 
and are not susceptible to use in their natural condition or by 
reasonable improvement as a means to transport interstate or 
foreign commerce.". 
O
t
)
) Section 9 of the Act of March 3,1899, entitled "An Act making 
appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of 
certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes" 
(33 U.S.C. 401) is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing: "The approval required by this section of the location and plans 
or any modification of plans of any bridge or causeway shall not 
apply to any bridge or causeway over waters which are not subject 
to the ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used and are not 
susceptible to use in their natural condition or by reasonable 
improvement as a means to transport interstate or foreign 
commerce.". 
(c) The first section of the Act of March 23,1906, entitled "An Act 
to regulate the construction of bridges over navigable waters" (33 
U.S.C. 491) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"This section shall not apply to any bridge over waters which are 
not subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and which are not used 
and are not susceptible to use in their natural condition or by 
reasonable improvement as a means to transport interstate or 
foreign commerce.". 
SEC. 108. (a) Section 5 of the Act entitled "An Act making appro-
priations for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain 
PUBLIC LAW 97-^22—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1583 
public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes", enacted 
August 18,1894 (33 U.S.C. 499; 28 Stat. 362), is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" after "SEC. 5."; 
(2) by striking out "or who shall unreasonably delay the 
opening of said draw after reasonable signal shall have been 
given," in the second sentence; 
(3) by striking out "section" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"subsection"; 
(4) by striking out "any violation" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "any willful violation"; and 
(5) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsections: 
"(b) No vessel owner or operator shall signal a drawbridge to open 
for any nonstructural vessel appurtenance which is not essential to' 
navigation or which is easily lowered and no person shall unreason-
ably delay the opening of a draw after the signal required by rules 
or regulations under this section has been given. The Secretary of 
Transportation shall issue rules and regulations to implement this 
subsection. 
"(c) Whoever violates any rule or regulation issued under subsec-
tion (a) or (b), shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than 
$1,000. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection until the 
person charged is given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on 
the charge. The Secretary of Transportation may assess and collect 
any civil penalty incurred under this subsection and, in his discre-
tion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty until the 
matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a person against 
whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection fails to pay 
that penalty, an action may be commenced in the district court of 
the United States for any district in which the violation occurs for 
such penalty.". 
(b) Section 18 of the Act entitled "An Act making appropriations 
for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public 
works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes", enacted 
March 3,1899 (30 Stat. 1153; 33 U.S.C. 502), is amended by inserting 
"(a)" after "SEC. 18.", by striking out "Secretary of War" wherever 
it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "Secretary of Transporta-
tion", by striking out "recommended by the Chief of Engineers", 
and by adding at the end thereof the following new subsections: 
"(b) No owner or operator of any bridge, drawbridge, or causeway 
shall endanger, unreasonably obstruct, or make hazardous the free 
navigation of any navigable water of the United States by reason of 
the failure to keep the bridge, drawbridge, or causeway and any 
accessory works in proper repair. 
"(c) Whoever violates any provision of this section, or any order 
issued under this section, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not 
more than $1,000. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a 
separate offense. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection 
until the person charged is given notice and an opportunity for a 
hearing on the charge. The Secretary of Transportation may assess 
and collect any civil penalty incurred under this subsection and, in 
his discretion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty until 
the matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a person against 
whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection fails to pay 
that penalty, an action may be commenced in the district court of 
the United States for any district in which the violation occurs for 
such penalty.". 
Rules and 
regulations. 
Violation, 
penalty. 
Violation, 
penalty. 
96 STAT. 1584 
PUBLIC LAW 97-^22—OCT. 15, 1982 
Violation, 
penalty. 
Violation, 
penalty. 
95 Stat. 1706. 
4
6 use 9. 
(c) Section 5 of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the construc-
tion of bridges over navigable waters", enacted March 23, 1906 (33 
U.S.C. 495; 34 Stat. 85), is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" after "SEC. 5."; 
(2) by striking out "who shall fail" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "who shsJl willfully fail"; 
(3) by striking out "shall be deemed guilty of a violation of 
this Act, and any persons who shall be guilty of a violation of 
this Act"; and 
(4) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) Whoever violates any provision of this Act, or any order 
issued under this Act, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more 
than $1,000. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a 
separate offense. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection 
until the person charged is given notice and an opportunity for a 
hearing on the charge. The Secretary of Transportation may assess 
and collect any civil penalty incurred under this subsection and, in 
his discretion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty untU 
the matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a person against 
whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection fails to pay 
that penalty, an action may be commenced in the district court of 
the United States for any oistrict in which the violation occurs for 
such penalty.". 
(d) Section 510 of the General Bridge Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 847; 33 
U.S.C. 533) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" after "SEC. 510."; 
(2) by striking out "who fails" each place it appears and 
inserting in lieu thereof "who willfully fails", bv striking out 
"who refuses" and inserting in lieu thereof 
who willfully 
refuses", and by striking out "otherwise violates" and inserting 
in lieu thereof otherwise willfully violates"; and 
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) Whoever violates any provision of this Act, or any order 
issued under this Act, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more 
than $1,000. Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a 
separate offense. No penalty may be assessed under this subsection 
until the person charged is given notice and an opportunity for a 
hearing on the charge. The Secretary of Transportation may assess 
and collect any civil penalty incurred under this subsection and, in 
his discretion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any penalty until 
the matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a person against 
whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsection fails to pay 
that penalty, an action may be commenced in the district court of 
the United States for any district in which the violation occurs for 
such penalty.". 
SEC. 109. The Act entitled "An Act to constitute a Bureau of 
Navigation in the Treasury Department", enacted July 5, 1884 (23 
Stat. 118), is amended by adding at the end of section 8 (as added by 
section 9 of Public Law 97-136) the following new subsection: 
"(d) In any case in which an inspection or examination is dele-
gated under subsection (a) to the American Bureau of Shipping, or 
similar American classification society, or agent thereof, such 
Bureau, society, or agent, as the case may be, shall maintain within 
the United States complete files of all information derived from or 
necessarily connected with such inspection or examination for not 
less than two years after the vessel with respect to which the 
inspection or examination is made ceases to be certificated and shall 
PUBLIC LAW 97-^22—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1585 
permit access to such files at all reasonable times to any member of 
the Coast Guard designated as a marine inspector and serving in a 
position as a marine inspector or designated in writing by the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard to have such access.". 
SEC. 110, Section 4417a of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States (46 U.S.C. 391a) is amended by striking out paragraph (11) 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"(11) 
PERSONNEL AND MANNING STANDARDS FOR FOREIGN VES-
SELS.—The Secretary shall— 
Evaluation. 
"(A) periodically evaluate the manning, training, qualifica-
tion, and watchkeeping standards promulgated by the certificat-
ing state of any foreign vessel which operates on or enters the 
navigable waters of the United States, and transfers oil or 
hazardous materials in any port or place under the jurisdiction 
of the United States; and 
"(B) determine, after each evaluation made under clause (A), 
whether the foreign state, whose system for licensing and certi-
fication of seafarers was evaluated, has standards which are 
comparable to or more stringent than United States standards 
or international standards which are accepted by the United 
States.". 
SEC. 111. Section 4417a(19) of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States (46 U.S.C. 391a(19)) is repealed. 
SEC. 112. (a) Section 34 of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 
U.S.C. 1483) is amended by striking out "$1,000" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$5,000". 
(b) Section 35(b) of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 
1484(b)) is amended by striking out "$500" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$1,000". 
SEC. 113. The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall review Coast 
Guard policies and procedures for towing and salvage of disabled 
vessels in order to further minimize the possibility of Coast Guard 
competition or interference with private towing activities or other 
commercial enterprise. 
SEC. 114. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the number 
of full-time civilian employees of the Coast Guard shall be main-
tained at a level not less than five thousand four hundred and 
eighty-four throughout fiscal years 1983 and 1984. 
SEC. 115. (a)(1) Chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
"§ 52. Vice admirals, continuity of grade 
14 USC 52. 
"The continuity of an officer's precedence on the active duty 
promotion list, date of rank, grade, pay, and allowances as a vice 
admiral shall not be interrupted by the termination of an appoint-
ment for the purpose of reappointment to another position as a vice 
admiral.". 
(2) The analysis of chapter 3 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by adding the following new item after the item relating to 
section 51: 
Review. 
14 USC 88 note. 
"52. Vice admirals, continuity of grade.". 
(b)(1) Section 368 of title 14, United States Code, is repealed. 
(2) The analysis of chapter 11 of title 14, United States Code, is 
amended by striking out: 
Repeal. 
96 STAT. 1586 
PUBLIC LAW 97-322—OCT. 15, 1982 
Publication 
Federal 
Register. 
Publication 
Federal 
Register. 
Publication 
Federal 
Register. 
"368. Discharge in case of underage enlistment.". 
(c) Section 93 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by— 
(1) striking out "and" at the end of subsection (p); 
(2) striking out the period at the end of subsection (q) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "; and "; and 
(3) adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(r) provide medical and dental care for personnel entitled 
thereto by law or regulation, including care in private 
facilities.". 
SEC. 116. Section 306(f) of title 37, United States Code, is amended 
by striking out "The Secretary of Transportation shall make a 
similar report for the Coast Guard when the Coast Guard is not 
operating as a service in the Navy.". 
SEC. 117. Paragraph (1) of the first section of the Act entitled "An 
Act to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 
1982, and for other purposes" (95 Stat. 1705; Public Law 97-136) is 
amended by striking out "$1,404,800,000" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$1,548,800,000". 
SEC. 118. (a)(1) Section 33(a) of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 
(46 U.S.C. 1482(a)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the 
following: "The Secretary shall, not less often than once a year, 
publish notice in the Federal Register for solicitation of nominations 
for membership on the Council.". 
(2) Section 33(b) of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 
1482(b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "The 
Council is authorized to make available to Congress any informa-
tion, advice, and recommendations which the Council is authorized 
to give to the Secretary.". 
(3) Section 33(c) of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (46 U.S.C. 
1482(c)) is amended by striking out "when engaged in the duties of 
the Council" and inserting in lieu thereof "while attending meetings 
of the Council". 
(b)(1) Section 193 of title 14, United States Code, is amended in the 
first sentence by inserting before the period the following: "(or, in 
the case of a member of the Committee who is an officer or employee 
of the United States, who shall receive no additional pay on account 
of his service on the Committee)". 
(2) Section 193 of title 14, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end thereof the following: "The Secretary shall, not 
less often than once a year, publish notice in the Federal Register 
for solicitation of nominations for membership on the Advisory 
Committee. The Advisory Committee is authorized to make avail-
able to Congress any information, advice, and recommendations 
which the Advisory Committee is authorized to give to the Secretary 
or the Commandant.". 
(c)(1) Section 5(a) of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 
U.S.C. 2073(a)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing: "The Secretary shall, not less often than once a year, publish 
notice in the Federal Register for solicitation of nominations for 
membership on the Council.". 
(2) Section 5(b) of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 
U.S.C. 2073(b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing: "The Council is authorized to make available to Congress any 
information, advice, and recommendations which the Council is 
authorized to give to the Secretary.". 
(3) Section 5(c) of the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980 (33 
U.S.C. 2073(c)) is amended by striking out "or while otherwise 
PUBLIC LAW 97-322—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1587 
Publication in 
Federal 
Register. 
engaged in the business of the Council" and by striking out ", 
including traveltime". 
(d) The Act entitled "An Act to establish a Towing Safety Advi-
sory Committee in the Department of Transportation" (33 U.S.C. 
1231a; 94 Stat. 1521) is amended as follows: 
(1) Subsection Qo) of the first section is amended by adding at 
the end thereof the following: "The Secretary shall, not less 
often than once a year, publish notice in the Federal Register 
for solicitation 
of nominations for membership on 
the 
Committee.". 
(2) Subsection (c) of the first section is amended by adding at 
the end thereof the following: "The Committee is authorized to 
make available to Congress any information, advice, and recom-
mendations which the Committee is authorized to give to the 
Secretary.". 
(3) Subsection (d) of the first section is amended by adding 
before the first sentence the following: "Members of the Com-
mittee who are not officers or employees of the United States 
shall serve without pay and members of the Committee who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall receive no 
additional pay on account of their service on the Committee. 
While away from their homes or regular places of business, 
members of the Committee may be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.". 
(e)(1) The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating shall, not less often than once a year, publish notice in the 
Federal Register for solicitation of nominations for membership on 
any advisory committee established administratively for the pur-
pose of giving advice and recommendations to such Secretary or the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard with respect to functions of the 
Coast Guard. 
(2) Any advisory committee described in paragraph (1) of this 
subsection is authorized to make available to Congress any informa-
tion, advice, and recommendations which the committee is author-
ized to give to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating or the Commandant of the Coast Guard. 
(3) Members of any advisory committee described in paragraph (1) 
of this subsection who are not officers or employees of the United 
States shall serve without pay and members of any such committee 
who are officers or employees of the United States shall receive no 
additional pay on account of their service on such committee. While Travel expenses. 
away from their homes or regular places of business, members of 
any such committee may be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 119. Section 4450(a) of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States (46 U.S.C. 239(a)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting 
"or to the loss of life involved in such casualty" after "of such 
casualty". 
SEC. 120. Section 4450 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 
(46 U.S.C. 239) is amended— 
(a) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) 
and (1), respectively; and 
(b) by inserting after subsection (i) the following new 
subsection: 
Pay. 
Travel expenses. 
Publication in 
Federal 
Register. 
14 u s e 631 note. 
Pay. 
97-200 O-84-pt. 2 
8 : QL3 
96 STAT. 1588 
PUBLIC LAW 97-322—OCT. 15, 1982 
Hearing, 
notification to 
congressional 
committees. 
Information, 
submittal to 
congressional 
committees. 
Sailing School 
Vessels Act of 
1982 
46 u s e 446 note. 
46 u s e 390a. 
46 u s e 390b. 
46 u s e 390c, 
390d. 
Violation, civil 
penalty. 
"O'XD The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall notify the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House 
of Representatives of any hearing involving the investigation of a 
major marine casualty involving loss of life under subsection (a) 
before such hearing occurs. 
"(2) The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the 
House of Representatives any information on major marine casual-
ties which is requested to be submitted by either of the committees 
or the chairman of either of the committees if the submission of 
such information is not prohibited by any other statute of the 
United States.". 
SEC. 121. It is the sense of the Congress that the President and the 
Coast Guard should give the search and rescue operations of the 
Coast Guard a high priority. 
TITLE II 
SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "Sailing School Vessels Act 
of 1982". 
SEC. 202. The Act entitled "An Act to require the inspection and 
certification of certain vessels carrying passengers", enacted May 
10, 1956 (46 U.S.C. 390 et seq.; 70 Stat. 151), is amended as follows: 
(1) Subsection (a) of the first section is amended by inserting 
", or any guest on board a sailing school vessel," after "pur-
poses" in paragraph (5). Such subsection is further amended by 
striking out "or" at the end of paragraph (5), by striking out the 
period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting in lieu thereof 
; or", and by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(7) any sailing school instructor or sailing school student.". 
(2) Section 2(a) is amended by striking out "and each freight-
carrying vessel," and inserting in lieu thereof ", each freight-
carrying vessel, and each sailing school vessel". Section 2(a)(3) is 
amended by striking out "and the crew" and inserting in lieu 
thereof ", crew, sailing school students and sailing school 
instructions", 
(3) Section 3 is amended by striking out "and freight-carrying 
vessels" and inserting in lieu thereof ", freight-carrying vessels, 
and sailing school vessels". Section 3 is further amended by 
striking out "and crew," and inserting in lieu thereof ", crew, 
sailing school students, and sailing school instructors," and by 
inserting after "number of passengers" the following: ", sailing 
school students, and sailing school instructors". 
(4) Sections 4(a), 4(b), and 5 are each amended by striking out 
"or freight-carrying vessel" each place it appears and inserting 
in lieu thereof ", freight-carrjdng vessel, or sailing school 
vessel". 
(5) Section 5 is further amended by designating the existing 
language, as amended by this title, £is subsection (a) and by 
adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) Whoever violates any rule or regulation of this Act shall be 
liable to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. Each day a violation 
continues shall be deemed a separate offense. No penalty may be 
assessed under this subsection until the person charged is given 
notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the charge. The Secre-
PUBLIC LAW 97-^22—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1589 
tary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may 
assess and collect any civil penalty incurred under this subsection 
and, in his discretion, may remit, mitigate, or compromise any 
penalty until the matter is referred to the Attorney General. If a 
person against whom a civil penalty is assessed under this subsec-
tion fails to pay that penalty, an action may be commenced in the 
district court of the United States for any district in which the 
violation occurs for such penalty.". 
(6) The first section is further amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following: 
"(f) The term 'sailing instruction' means teaching, research, and 
Definitions. 
practical experience in the operation of vessels propelled primarily 
by sail and may include any subjects related thereto and to the sea, 
including but not limited to seamanship, navigation, oceanography, 
other nautical and marine sciences, and maritime history and 
literature. 
"(g) The term 'sailing school vessel' means a vessel which the 
Secretary finds to be less than five hundred gross tons, carrying six 
or more individuals who are sailing school students or sailing school 
instructors, principally equipped for propulsion by sail, whether or 
not the vessel has any auxiliary means of propulsion, and owned or 
demise chartered and operated by an organization described in 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and exempt 
26 use 501. 
from tax under section 501(a) of such Code, as now or hereafter 
amended, or by any State or political subdivision thereof, during 
such times as the vessel is operated by such organization or State or 
political subdivision exclusively for the purposes of sailing 
instruction. 
"(h) The term 'sailing school instructor' means any person who is 
aboard a sailing school vessel for the purpose of furnishing sailing 
instruction. Such term does not include any operator or member of 
the crew of such a vessel who is among those required to be aboard 
the vessel to meet requirement establishing under section 3 of this 
Act. 
"(i) The term 'sailing school student' means any person who is 
aboard a sailing school vessel for the purpose of receiving sailing 
instruction.". 
SEC. 203. Section 13(b) of the Act of March 4, 1915 (46 U.S.C. 
672(b)), is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
paragraph: 
"(4) 'Able seaman-sail' qualified for service on any waters 
shall have at least six months' service on deck on sailing school 
ships, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail, 
or equivalent sailing vessels operating on the oceans or naviga-
ble waters of the United States including the Great Lakes.". 
SEC. 204. Sailing school students and sailing school instructors 
shall not be considered to be seamen under the provisions of titles 52 
and 53 of the Revised Statutes of the United States and any Act 
amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, or for the purposes of 
the maritime law doctrines of maintenance and cure or warranty of 
seaworthiness. 
SEC. 205. Each owner or charterer of a sailing school vessel shall 
46 use 446a. 
maintain evidence of his or her financial responsibility to meet any 
liability incurred for death or injury to sailing school students or 
sailing school instructors on voyages aboard the vessel, in an 
amount not less than $50,000 for each student or instructor. Such 
"Able seaman-
sail." 
46 use 446. 
96 STAT. 1590 
PUBLIC LAW 97-322—OCT. 15, 1982 
46 u s e 446b. 
Definitions. 
46 u s e 446c. 
Rules and 
regulations. 
46 u s e 446d. 
Effective date. 
46 u s e 446 note. 
financial responsibility may be evidenced by policies of insurance or 
other adequate financial resources. 
SEC. 206. For the purposes of section 3 of the Act of February 17, 
1898 (46 U.S.C. 291), and section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 
1920 (46 U.S.C. 883), a sailing school vessel shall not be deemed to be 
a merchant vessel or a vessel engaged in trade or commerce. 
SEC. 207. For purposes of sections 203,204,205,206, and 208 of this 
title, the terms "sailing school students", "sailing school instructor", 
and "sailing school vessel" have the meaning given such terms in 
the first section of the Act entitled "An Act to require the inspection 
and certification of certain vessels carrying passengers", enacted 
May 10,1956 (46 U.S.C. 390) as amended by this title. 
SEC. 208. (a) The Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating shall, after consultation with representatives of 
the private sector having experience in the operation of vessels 
likely to be certified as sailing school vessels, but not later than 
eighteen months after the date of enactment of this title, prescribe 
rules and regulations to carry out this title including the amend-
ments made by this title. Such rules and regulations shall reflect the 
specialized nature of sailing school vessel operations, and the char-
acter, design, and construction of vessels operating as sailing school 
vessels, and shall include requirements for notice to sailing school 
students and sailing school instructors regarding the specialized 
nature of sailing school vessels and applicable safety regulations. 
Any manning requirement imposed with respect to sailing school 
vessels shall take into account the participation of sailing school 
students and sailing school instructors in the operation of such 
vessels. 
(b) Sections 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, and 207 of this title and the 
amendments made by such sections shall take effect eighteen 
months after the date of enactment of this Act or on the date upon 
which the rules and regulations referred to in subsection (a) take 
effect, whichever is earlier. 
Approved October 15, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2252 (H.R. 5617): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 97-563, Pt. I (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries) and 
Pt. II (eomm. on Public Works and Transportation). 
SENATE REPORT No. 97-361 (Oomm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): 
May 5, considered and passed Senate. 
July 15, H.R. 5617 considered and passed House; S. 2252, amended, passed in 
lieu. 
Sept. 27, House concurred in House amendments with an amendment. 
Sept. 29, House concurred in Senate amendment.