An Act to amend section 4488 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, to authorize the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe regulations governing lifesaving equipment, firefighting equipment, muster lists, ground tackle, hawsers, and bilge systems aboard vessels, and for other purposes
PL 86-244 (S.2118), enacted 09/09/1959

73 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 86-244-8EPT. 9, 1959 
475 
Public Law 86-244 
AN ACT 
To amend section 4488 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, to authorize the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to pre-
scriba regulations governing lifesaving equipment, flrefigfating equipment, 
muster lists, ground tackle, hawsers, and bilge systems aboard vessels, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the S&nMe and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That section 4488 
of the Revised Statutes, as amended (46 U.S.C. 481), is further 
amended to read as follows: 
"(a) In order to provide against hazard to life and property, the 
Secretary of the Department m which the Coast Guard is operating 
(hereinafter referred to as the 'Secretary') shall prescribe such rules 
and regulations as may be necessary for vessels subject to inspection 
and certification by the United States Coast Guard with respect to the 
following matters: 
"(1) Lifesaving equipment, including, but not limited to, the num-
ber, type, size, capacity, details of construction, methods of operation, 
stowage, maintenance, manning, use, testing, and inspecting of such 
equipment, and drills and exercises necessary to assure proper func-
tioning and use of such equipment. 
"(2) Firefighting equipment and precautionary measures guarding 
against fire, including, but not limited to, the number, type, size, ca-
pacity, details of construction, methods of operation, stowage, mainte-
nance, manning, use, testing, and inspecting of such equipment, and 
drills and exercises necessary to assure proper functioning and use 
of such equipment. 
"(3) Muster lists, including, but not limited to, the posting of such 
lists, and prescribing the special duties to be performed by crew mem-
bers in the event of emergency. 
"(4) Ground tackle and hawsers, including, but not limited to, the 
number, size, stowage, use, maintenance, manning, testing, and inspec-
tion. 
"(5) Bilge systems for the removal of liquid from the various 
parts of the vessel, including, but not limited to, design, installation, 
capacity, composition, functioning, manning, testing, and inspection. 
"(b)(1) In prescribing rules and regulations pursuant to this 
section, the Secretarj-^ shall give consideration to the age, size, service, 
route, and other factors affecting the operation of the vessels. 
"(2) Unless otherwise prescribed by treaty or other international 
agreement, the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary pur-
suant to this section shall be applicable to all foreign vessels carrying 
passengers from ports of the United States. 
" (3) The Secretary may, upon his own motion, or upon the applica-
tion of any interested party, determine that the application to any 
vessel of the rules and regulations prescribed pursuant to this section, 
or any part thereof, is not necessary in the public interest, and he 
may order such vessel exempt from their application upon such terms 
and conditions and for such periods of time as he may specify in the 
order. 
"(c) The owner or operator of any vessel who neglects or refuses to 
provide and equip his vessel with the lifesaving, firefighting, or other 
equipment, or take other measures required by the rules or regulations 
issued pursuant to this section shall be liable to the United States in 
a penalty of $1,000 for each such neglect or refusal for which sum the 
vessel shall be liable and may be seized and proceeded against by way 
of libel in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction 
September 9, 1959 
[S. 2HS] 
Coast Guard. 
J 
J i f e s a v i n g 
equipment, regula-
Foreign vessels. 
Exemptions. 
VIelation, 
alty. 
32716 O-60—33 
476 
PUBLIC LAW 8e-245-SEPT. 9, 1959 
[73 ST A T . 
Repeals. 
of the violation; and any master or person in charge of such vessel 
who so defaults shall be liable to a penalty of $500. 
"(d) Any person who willfully and knowingly manufactures or 
sells, or offers for sale, or has in his possession with intent to sell, 
any lifesaving, firefighting, or other equipment subject to the pro-
^46 use 170-498 yisious of title 52 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, which is so 
"
"
* 
defective as to be inefficient to accomplish the purpose for which it is 
intended, shall be fined not more than $10,000 and may, in addition 
thereto, in the discretion of the Court, be imprisoned for a term not 
exceeding five years." 
SEC. 2. To the extent that any existing provision of law, or any rule 
or regulation prescribed pursuant thereto, is in conflict with any pro-
vision of section 4488 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 481), such 
section as amended by this Act, and the rules and regulations hereafter 
prescribed pursuant thereto, shall prevail. 
SEC. 3. (a) The following Acts or parts of Acts and all amendments 
thereto are hereby repealed: 
(1) Section 4470 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 463). 
(2) Section 4471 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 464). 
(3) Section 4479 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 472). 
(4) Section 4481 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 474). 
(5) Section 4482 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 475). 
(6) Section 4483 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 476). 
(7) Section 4492 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 490). 
(8) Section 2(a) of the Act of October 9, 1940 (ch. 777, 54 Stat. 
1028; 46 U.S.C. 463a). 
(9) Section 11 of the Act of May 28, 1908 (ch. 212, 35 Stat. 428; 
46 U.S.C. 396). 
(b) Any reference in any other law to any Act, or any part thereof, 
repealed by this Act shall be deemed as a reference to section 4488 of 
the Revised Statutes, as amended (46 U.S.C. 481). 
SEC. 4. Any rights or liabilities existing on the effective date of 
this Act shall not be affected by the enactment of this Act. Any 
procedures or rules or regulations in effect on the effective date of this 
Act shall remain in effect until modified or superseded under the 
authority of this Act. 
Approved September 9, 1959. 
Exceptions. 
September 9, 1959 
[S. 2435] 
Public Law 86-245 
AN ACT 
To provide that certain funds in the Treasury of the United States to the credit 
of the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians be transferred to the credit of the 
Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado. 
C o nf e d er ated 
Bands of Ute In-
dians, funds. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress ass&tnhled, That the entire 
proceeds of the judgment in Court of Claims case numbered 47565 
entitled "The Confederated Bands of Ute Indians against the United 
States of America", now on deposit in the Treasury of the United 
States to the credit of the Confederated Bands of Ute Indians, 
together with all accrued interest thereon, be transferred and credited 
to the account of the Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain 
Reservation, Colorado, to be used as directed by the Ute Mountain 
Tribal Council and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. Any 
part of such funds that may be distributed per capita to the members 
of the tribe shall not be subject to Federal or State income tax. 
Approved September 9, 1959.