[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6831 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6831
To require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to issue regulations for
amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2022
Mr. Carson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
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A BILL
To require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to issue regulations for
amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR AMPHIBIOUS PASSENGER VESSELS.
(a) Regulations Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
issue regulations for amphibious passenger vessels operating in waters
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in section
2.38 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date
of enactment of this Act).
(b) Deadline for Compliance.--The regulations issued under
subsection (a) shall take effect not later than 24 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Requirements.--The regulations required under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) A requirement that operators of amphibious passenger
vessels provide reserve buoyancy for such vessels through
passive means, including watertight compartmentalization,
built-in flotation, or such other means as determined
appropriate by the Commandant, in order to ensure that such
vessels remain afloat and upright in the event of flooding,
including when carrying a full complement of passengers and
crew.
(2) A requirement that an operator of an amphibious
passenger vessel--
(A) review and notate the forecast of the National
Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in the logbook of the vessel before
getting underway and periodically while underway;
(B) proceed to the nearest harbor or safe refuge in
any case in which a watch or warning is issued for wind
speeds exceeding the wind speed equivalent used to
certify the stability of such amphibious passenger
vessel; and
(C) maintain and monitor a weather monitor radio
receiver at the operator station of the vessel that is
capable of being automatically activated by the warning
alarm device of the National Weather Service.
(3) A requirement that--
(A) operators of amphibious passenger vessels
inform passengers that seat belts may not be worn
during waterborne operations;
(B) before the commencement of waterborne
operations, a crew member shall visually check that the
seatbelt of each passenger is unbuckled; and
(C) operators or crew maintain a log recording the
actions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(4) A requirement for annual training for operators and
crew of amphibious passengers vessels, including--
(A) training for personal flotation and seat belt
requirements, verifying the integrity of the vessel at
the onset of each waterborne departure, identification
of weather hazards, and use of National Weather Service
resources prior to operation; and
(B) training for crew to respond to emergency
situations, including flooding, engine compartment
fires, man-overboard situations, and in water emergency
egress procedures.
(d) Consideration.--In issuing the regulations required under
subsection (a), the Commandant shall consider whether personal
flotation devices should be required for the duration of the waterborne
transit of an amphibious passenger vessel.
(e) Interim Requirements.--Beginning on the date on which the
regulations under subsection (a) are issued, the Commandant shall
require that operators of amphibious passenger vessels that are not in
compliance with such regulations shall be subject to the following
requirements:
(1) Remove the canopies and any window coverings of such
vessels for waterborne operations, or install in such vessels a
canopy that does not restrict horizontal or vertical escape by
passengers in the event of flooding or sinking.
(2) If a canopy and window covering are removed from any
such vessel pursuant to paragraph (1), require that all
passengers wear a personal flotation device approved by the
Coast Guard before the onset of waterborne operations of such
vessel.
(3) Reengineer such vessels to permanently close all
unnecessary access plugs and reduce all through-hull
penetrations to the minimum number and size necessary for
operation.
(4) Install in such vessels independently powered electric
bilge pumps that are capable of dewatering such vessels at the
volume of the largest remaining penetration in order to
supplement an operable Higgins pump or a dewatering pump of
equivalent or greater capacity.
(5) Install in such vessels not fewer than 4 independently
powered bilge alarms.
(6) Conduct an in-water inspection of any such vessel after
each time a through-hull penetration of such vessel has been
removed or uncovered.
(7) Verify through an in-water inspection the watertight
integrity of any such vessel at the outset of each waterborne
departure of such vessel.
(8) Install underwater LED lights that activate
automatically in an emergency.
(9) Otherwise comply with any other provisions of the
circular titled ``Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 1-
01'' in the inspection, configuration, and operation of such
vessels.
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