Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/578

 PUBLIC LAW 109–241—JULY 11, 2006

120 STAT. 547

The implementation of this section shall not delay the implementation of an Automatic Identification System as required by section 70114 of title 46, United States Code, and international convention. SEC. 420. VOYAGE DATA RECORDER STUDY AND REPORT.

(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall study— (1) the carriage of a voyage data recorder by a passenger vessel described in section 2101(22)(D) of title 46, United States Code, carrying more than 399 passengers; and (2) standards for voyage data recorders, methods for approval of models of voyage data recorders, and procedures for annual performance testing of voyage data recorders. (b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consult, at a minimum, with manufacturers of voyage data recorders and operators of potentially affected passenger vessels. (c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 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 study’s findings, including a proposal for legislation if such a proposal is considered appropriate by the Secretary. SEC. 421. DISTANT WATER TUNA FLEET.

(a) MANNING REQUIREMENTS.—Notwithstanding section 8103(a) of title 46, United States Code, United States purse seine fishing vessels fishing exclusively for highly migratory species in the treaty area under a fishing license issued pursuant to the 1987 Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific Islands States and the Government of the United States of America, or transiting to or from the treaty area exclusively for such purpose, may engage foreign citizens to meet the manning requirement (except for the master) in the 48-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act if, after timely notice of a vacancy to meet the manning requirement, no United States citizen personnel are readily available to fill such vacancy. (b) LICENSING RESTRICTIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a)(1) only applies to a foreign citizen that holds a valid license or certificate issued— (A) in accordance with the standards established by the 1995 amendments to the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW 95); and (B) by an authority that the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating recognizes as imposing competency and training standards equivalent to or exceeding those required for a United States license issued under chapter 71 of title 46, United States Code. (2) TREATMENT OF EQUIVALENT LICENSE.—An equivalent license or certificate as recognized by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 8304 of title 46, United States Code, but only while a person holding the license or certificate is in the service of a vessel to which this section applies. (c) LIMITATION.—Subsection (a) applies only to vessels operating in and out of American Samoa.

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