Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in Senate	5,493	n/a	n/a
Reported in Senate	5,754	31	8%
Engrossed in Senate	1,705	26	80%
Referred in House	1,737	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	6%

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S 685 ESRFHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

111th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 685CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require new vessels for carrying oil fuel to have double hulls, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. OIL FUEL TANK PROTECTION.

Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(k)(1) Each vessel of the United States that is constructed under a contract entered into after the date of enactment of the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2010, or that is delivered after August 1, 2010, 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.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. MARITIME EMERGENCY PREVENTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 4(b) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1223(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘operate or’ and inserting ‘operate, including direction to change the vessel’s heading and speed, or’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting ‘emergency or’ after ‘other’ in paragraph (3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) REVISION OF VTS POLICY- The Secretary of the department in which the Coast guard is operating shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) provide guidance to all vessel traffic personnel that clearly defines the use of authority to direct or control vessel movement when such direction or control is justified in the interest of safety; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) require vessel traffic personnel communications to identify the vessel, rather than the pilot, when vessels are operating in vessel traffic service pilotage areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Adequacy of VTS Locations and Infrastructure-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall continue to conduct individual port and waterway safety assessments under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.) to determine and prioritize the United States ports, waterways, and channels that are in need of new, expanded, or improved vessel traffic management risk mitigation measures, including vessel traffic service systems, by evaluating--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the nature, volume, and frequency of vessel traffic;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the risks of collisions, allisions, spills, and other maritime mishaps associated with that traffic;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the projected impact of installation, expansion, or improvement of a vessel traffic service system or other risk mitigation measures; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) any other relevant data.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ANALYSES- Based on the results of the assessments under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify the requirements for necessary expansion, improvement, or construction of buildings, networks, communications, or other infrastructure to improve the effectiveness of existing vessel traffic service systems, or necessary to support recommended new vessel traffic service systems, including all necessary costs for construction, reconstruction, expansion, or improvement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PERSONNEL- The Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) review and validate the recruiting, retention, training, and expansion of the vessel traffic service personnel workforce necessary to maintain the effectiveness of existing vessel traffic service systems and to support any expansion or improvement identified by the Secretary under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) require basic navigation training for vessel traffic service watchstander personnel--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) to support and complement the existing mission of the vessel traffic service to monitor and assess vessel movements within a vessel traffic service Area;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) to exchange information regarding vessel movements with vessel and shore-based personnel; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) to provide advisories to vessel masters.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) REPORT- Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report consolidating the results of the analyses under paragraph (2), together with recommendations for implementing the study results.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. TRAINED POLLUTION INVESTIGATORS.

To the extent practicable, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall ensure that there is at least 1 trained and experienced pollution investigator on duty, or in an on-call status, at all times for each Coast Guard Sector Command.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. DURATION OF CREDENTIALS.

(a) MERCHANT MARINER’S DOCUMENTS- Section 7302(f) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Periods of Validity and Renewal of Merchant Mariners’ Documents-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) DURATION OF LICENSES- Section 7106 of such title is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY- Section 7107 of such title is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘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 continuous possession by the holder of a license as a medical doctor or registered nurse, respectively, issued by a State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(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.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. 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:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘7507. 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 up to one year an expiring license or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary determines that extension is required--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for those licenses or certificates of registry;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) because necessary records have been destroyed or are unavailable due to a natural disaster; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) to align the expiration date of a license or certificate of registry with the expiration date of a transportation worker identification credential under section 70501.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) MERCHANT MARINER DOCUMENTS- Notwithstanding 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 determines that extension is required--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for those licenses or certificates of registry;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) because necessary records have been destroyed or are unavailable due to a natural disaster; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) to align the expiration date of a license or certificate of registry with the expiration date of a transportation worker identification credential under section 70501.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) MANNER OF EXTENSION- Any extensions granted under this section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY- The authority for providing an extension under this section shall expire on December 31, 2011.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The chapter analysis for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘7507. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner documents.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN REPORTS.

Notwithstanding the direction of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations on page 60 of Report 109-79 (109th Congress, 1st Session) under the headings ‘UNITED STATES COAST GUARD OPERATING EXPENSES’ and ‘AREA SECURITY MARITIME EXERCISE PROGRAM’, concerning the submission by the Coast Guard of reports to that Committee on the results of port security terrorism exercises, beginning with October, 2010, the Coast Guard shall submit only 1 such report each year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. BUDGETARY EFFECTS

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the Senate September 29, 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Secretary.

111th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 685

AN ACT

To require new vessels for carrying oil fuel to have double hulls, and for other purposes NANCY ERICKSON, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink