Sec. 404. Towing vessels; operation outside the boundary line
521 words·~2 min read·
/bill/116/hr/3409/rh/section-404·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
A towing vessel to which this section applies is exempt from any additional requirements of subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, and chapter I of title 33 and chapter I of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, that would result solely from such vessel operating outside the Boundary Line (as such term is defined in section 103 of title 46, United States Code) if such vessel— is listed as a response vessel on a vessel response plan and is operating outside the Boundary Line solely to perform duties of a response vessel; or is operating outside the Boundary Line solely to perform operations necessary to escort a vessel with limited maneuverability.
This section applies to a towing vessel— that is subject to inspection under chapter 33 of title 46, United States Code, and subchapter M of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; with only Lakes, Bays, and Sounds or Rivers routes recorded on such vessel’s certificate of inspection under section 136.230 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations; and that, with respect to a vessel that is described in subsection (a)(1), is listed— on a vessel response plan under part 155 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, on the date of approval of the vessel response plan; or by name or reference in the vessel response plan’s geographic-specific appendix on the date of approval of the vessel response plan; or that, with respect to a vessel described in subsection (a)(2), is regularly engaged in harbor assist operations, including the docking, undocking, mooring, unmooring, and escorting of vessels with limited maneuverability.
A vessel exempted under subsection
(a)is subject to the following operating limitations: The voyage of a vessel exempted under subsection (a)(1) shall— be less than 12 hours, or in the case of a voyage in the territorial waters of Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and American Samoa, have sufficient manning as determined by the Secretary; and originate and end in the inspection zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine Inspection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code. The voyage of a vessel exempted under subsection (a)(2) shall— be less than 12 hours in total duration; originate and end in the inspection zone of a single Officer In-Charge, Marine Inspection, as such term is defined in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code; and occur no further than 10 nautical miles from the Boundary Line. The interim exemption provided under subsection
(a)shall terminate on July 22, 2023. The Officer In-Charge, Marine Inspection, as defined in section 3305(d)(4) of title 46, United States Code, for an inspection zone may restrict operations under the exemptions provided under subsection
(a)for safety purposes. Not later than July 22, 2022, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding the following: The impacts of the interim exemptions provided under this section. Any safety concerns regarding the expiration of such interim exemptions. Whether such interim exemptions should be extended or made permanent in the interests of safety.