Sec. 210. Great Lakes winter shipping
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Not later than 1 year after the date of 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 Coast Guard icebreaking in the Great Lakes. The report required under subparagraph
(A)shall— evaluate— the economic impact related to vessel delays or cancellations associated with ice coverage on the Great Lakes; the impact the standards proposed in paragraph
(2)would have on Coast Guard operations in the Great Lakes if such standards were adopted; the fleet mix of medium icebreakers and icebreaking tugs necessary to meet the standards proposed in paragraph (2); and the resources necessary to support the fleet described in subclause (III), including billets for crew and operating costs; and make recommendations to the Commandant for improvements to the Great Lakes icebreaking program, including with respect to facilitating shipping and meeting all Coast Guard mission needs. The proposed standards, the impact of the adoption of which is evaluated in subclauses
(II)and
(III)of paragraph (1)(B)(i), are the following: Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes shall be open to navigation not less than 90 percent of the hours that vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries attempt to transit such ice-covered waterways. In a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation, as described in subparagraph (A), because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes shall be open to navigation at least 70 percent of the hours that vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries attempt to transit such ice-covered waterways. Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Comptroller General submits the report under paragraph (1), the Commandant 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 that includes the following: A plan for Coast Guard implementation of any recommendation made by the Comptroller General under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) with which the Commandant concurs. With respect to any recommendation made under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) with which the Commandant does not concur, an explanation of the reasons why the Commandant does not concur. A review of, and a proposed implementation plan for, the results of the fleet mix analysis under paragraph (1)(B)(i)(III). Any proposed modifications to current Coast Guard standards for icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes. During the 5 ice seasons following the date of enactment of this Act, the Coast Guard shall conduct a pilot program to determine the extent to which the current Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutter fleet can meet the proposed standards described in paragraph (2). The Commandant shall collect, during ice season, archive, and disseminate data on icebreaking operations and transits on ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes of vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries. Data collected, archived, and disseminated under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: Voyages by vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries to transit ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes that are delayed or canceled because of the nonavailability of a suitable icebreaking vessel. Voyages attempted by vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries to transit ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes that do not reach their intended destination because of the nonavailability of a suitable icebreaking vessel. The period of time that each vessel engaged in commercial service or ferry was delayed in getting underway or during a transit of ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes due to the nonavailability of a suitable icebreaking vessel. The period of time elapsed between each request for icebreaking assistance by a vessel engaged in commercial service or ferry and the arrival of a suitable icebreaking vessel and whether such icebreaking vessel was a Coast Guard or commercial asset. The percentage of hours that Great Lakes ice-covered waterways were open to navigation while vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries attempted to transit such waterways for each ice season after the date of enactment of this Act. Relevant communications of each vessel engaged in commercial service or ferry with the Coast Guard or commercial icebreaking service providers with respect to subparagraphs
(A)through (D). A description of any mitigating circumstance, such as Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaker diversions to higher priority missions, that may have contributed to the amount of time described in subparagraphs
(C)and
(D)or the percentage of time described in subparagraph (E). Any reporting by operators of commercial vessels engaged in commercial service or ferries under this section shall be voluntary. The Commandant shall make the data collected, archived, and disseminated under this subsection available to the public on a publicly accessible internet website of the Coast Guard. With respect to the Great Lakes icebreaking operations of the Coast Guard and the development of the data collected, archived, and disseminated under this subsection, the Commandant shall consult operators of— vessels engaged in commercial service; and ferries. Section 8105 of the William M.
(Mac)Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( Public Law 116–283 ) is amended by striking subsection
(b)and inserting the following: Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commandant 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 operational benefits and limitations of a common hull design for icebreaking cutters for operation in the Great Lakes, the Northeastern United States, and the Arctic, as appropriate, that are at least as capable as the Coast Guard 140-foot icebreaking tugs. . In this section: The term commercial service has the meaning given such term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code. The term Great Lakes — has the meaning given such term in section 118 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act ( 33 U.S.C. 1268 ); and includes harbors adjacent to such waters. The term ice-covered waterway means any portion of the Great Lakes in which vessels engaged in commercial service or ferries operate that is 70 percent or greater covered by ice, but does not include any waters adjacent to piers or docks for which commercial icebreaking services are available and adequate for the ice conditions. The term open to navigation means navigable to the extent necessary to— meet the reasonable demands of shipping; minimize delays to passenger ferries; extricate vessels and persons from danger; prevent damage due to flooding; and conduct other Coast Guard missions, as required. The term reasonable demands of shipping means the safe movement of vessels engaged in commercial service and ferries transiting ice-covered waterways in the Great Lakes to their intended destination, regardless of type of cargo.
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