Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/235

 PUBLIC LAW 96-378—OCT. 6, 1980

94 STAT. 1513

Public Law 96-378 96th Congress An Act To amend certain inspection and manning laws applicable to small vessels carrying passengers or freight for hire, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) section 4426 of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C. 404), is amended so that the first portion of the section, commencing with the words "4426. The hulls and boilers of every ferryboat," and ending with the words "after December 31, 1953: Provided further, "reads as follows: "SEC. 4426. The hulls and boilers of every ferryboat, canal boat, yacht, or other small craft of like character propelled by steam, shall be inspected under the provisions of this title. All mechanically propelled vessels of one hundred gross tons or over, except those vessels propelled by machinery other than steam and engaged in fishing as a regular business, which carry freight or passengers for hire shall likewise be inspected under the provisions of this title. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section for the inspection of hulls, machinery, and equipment; for the manning of these vessels; and for the duties and qualifications of the personnel thereof. Other applicable provisions of law and the regulations issued hereunder shall be complied with before a certificate of inspection may be issued: Provided, That no such vessel of three hundred gross tons or over may be navigated without a licensed engineer and a licensed deck officer: Provided further. That, for any violation of the provisions of this title or of the regulations issued thereunder, these vessels, their masters, officers, and owners shall be subject to the provisions of sections 4496, 4497, 4498, 4499, and 4500 of this title, relating to the imposition of penalties and the enforcement of law: Provided further,". (b) Title 52 of the Revised Statutes is amended by adding the following new section after section 4426: "SEC. 4426a. (1) An offshore supply vessel is a vessel that— "(i) is propelled by machinery other than steam, "(ii) is not within the description of passenger carrying vessels in section 1 of the Act of May 10, 1956 (70 Stat. 151), as amended (46 U.S.C. 390), "(iii) is of more than fifteen and less than five hundred gross tons, and "(iv) regularly carries goods, supplies, or equipment in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources. "(2) An existing offshore supply vessel is one that was operating as such on or before January 1, 1979, or that, if not in service of any kind on or before that date, was contracted for on or before that date and entered service as such before the effective date of this section. "(3) A new offshore supply vessel is one that is not an existing offshore supply vessel.

Oct. 6, 1980 [H.R. 5164]

Small vessels, inspection and manning.

Regulations.

46 USC 494-498.

Offshore supply vessel. 46 USC 404-1.

Existing offshore supply vessel.

New offshore supply vessel.

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