Sec. 271. Comptroller General of the United States report on Certificate of Compliance inspection program with respect to vessels that carry bulk liquified gases as cargo and liquefied natural gas tank vessels
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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the resources, regulations, policies, protocols, and other actions designed to carry out the Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance program with respect to liquefied natural gas tank vessels (including examinations under section 153.808 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations) and vessels that carry bulk liquified gases as cargo (including examinations under section part 154 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations) for purposes of maintaining the efficiency of examinations under that program.
The report under subsection
(a)shall include the following: An assessment of the adequacy of current Coast Guard resources, regulations, policies, and protocols to maintain vessel examination efficiency while carrying out the program referred to in subsection
(a)as United States bulk liquified gases cargo, liquefied natural gas exports, and associated vessel traffic at United States ports increase. An evaluation of the constraints and challenges to maintaining examination efficiency under the program as United States bulk liquified gases cargo, liquefied natural gas exports, and associated vessel traffic at United States ports increase. Recommendations for changes to resources, regulations, policies, and protocols to maintain the efficiency of the program, including analysis of the following alternatives: Establishment of a Coast Guard marine examination unit near the Panama Canal to conduct inspections under the program on liquefied natural gas tank vessels bound for the United States, similar to Coast Guard operations carried out by Coast Guard Activities Europe and Coast Guard Activities Far East, including the effects of the establishment of such a unit on the domestic aspects of the program. Management of all marine examiners with gas carrier qualification within each Coast Guard District by a single Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (as defined in section 50.10–10 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations) to improve the efficiency of their vessel examination assignments. Extension of the duration of assignment of marine examiners with a gas carrier qualification at Coast Guard units that most frequently inspect vessels that carry bulk liquified gases as cargo and liquefied natural gas tank vessels. Increase in the use of civilians to conduct and support examinations under the program. Extension of the duration of certificates of compliance under the program for vessels that carry bulk liquified gases as cargo and liquefied natural gas tank vessels that are less than 10 years of age and participate in a Coast Guard vessel quality program.