Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/208

 152

3 UST 3450.

Inspection*

Fees.

R u l e s and regulations.

PUBLIC LAW 519-MAY 10, 1956

[70

ST A T.

(1) the OAvner or his representative; (2) the master and the bona fide members of the crew engaged in the business of the vessel who have contributed no consideration for their carriage and who are paid for their services; (3) any employee of the owner of the vessel engaged in the business of the owner, except when the vessel is operating under a bareboat charter; (4) any employee of the bareboat charterer of the vessel engaged in the business of the bareboat charterer; (5) any guest on board a vessel which is being used exclusively for pleasure purposes who has not contributed any consideration, directly or indirectly, for his carriage; or (6) any person on board a vessel documented and used for tugboat or towboat service of fifty ^ross tons or more who has not contributed any consideration, directly or indirectly, for his carriage. (b) The term "passenger-carrying vessel" means any vessel which carries more than six passengers, and which is (1) propelled in whole or in part by steam or by any form of mechanical or electrical power and is of fifteen gross tons or less; (2) propelled in whole or in part by steam or by any form of mechanical or electrical power and is of more than fifteen and less than one hundred gross tons and not more than sixty-five feet in length measured from end to end over the deck excluding sheer; (3) propelled by sail and is of seven hundred gross tons or less; or (4) non-self-propelled and is of one hundred gross tons or less; except any public vessel of the United States or of any foreign state, or any lifeboat forming part of a vessel's lifesaving equipment. The term includes (1) any domestic vessel operating on the navigable waters of the United States, or on the high seas outside of those waters and within the normal operating range of the vessel, and (2) any foreign vessel departing from a port of the United States. (c) The term "International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea" means the "International (Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1948" or any similar international convention which comes into force and effect after ratification by the United States Senate. (d) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. SEC. 2. (a) The Secretary shall, at least once every three years, cause to be inspected each passenger-carrying vessel, and shall satisfy himself that every such vessel (1) is of a structure suitable for the service in which it is to be employed; (2) is equipped with the proper appliances for lifesaving and fire protection in accordance with applicable laws, or rules and regulations prescribed by him; (3) has suitable accommodations for passengers and the crew; and (4) is in a condition to warrant the belief that it may be used, operated, and navigated with safety to life in the proposed service and that all applicable requirements of marine safety statutes and regulations thereunder are faithfully complied with. (b) The Secretary may prescribe reasonable fees or charges for (1) any inspection made and (2) any certificate, license, or permit issued pursuant to this Act or the rules and regulations established hereunder. SEC. 3. I n order to secure effective provision against hazard to life created by passenger-carrying vessels and to carry out in the most effective manner the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary with respect to design, construction, alteration, or repair of such vessels, including the superstructures, hulls, accommodations for passengers and crew, fittings, equipment, appliances, propvilsive machinery, auxiliary

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