Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/268

 94 STAT. 1546

46 USC 1119.

Coastwise coal transport, priority loading. 46 USC 1121-1. Report to Congress.

Vessel, coastwise trade documentation.

"Citizen of the United States."

PUBLIC LAW 96-387—OCT. 7, 1980

or as modified in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, he shall certify such approval to the Secretary of Commerce.". SEC. 4. Section 209(b) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, is amended by (a) deleting from clause (2) the words "and cost of national defense features"; (h) inserting after clause (2) the following new clause: "(3) cost of national defense features;"; and, (c) renumbering the remaining clauses accordingly. SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any vessel engaged in the coastwise transportation of coal produced in the United States, from a port in the United States to another port in the United States, shall until June 30, 1987, have the priority to load at any such ports ahead of any waiting vessels engaged in the export trade of coal produced in the United States: Provided, That, the Secretary of Commerce may, if he determines that it is in the national interest, eliminate priority loading, as provided herein, at any such port or ports, and to report such action to the Congress within 30 days. SEC. 6. Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, as amended (46 U.S.C. 883), or any other provision of law to the contrary, the vessel known as the Scuba King, official numbered 532376, owned by Bernard Despins, shall be entitled to be documented to engage in the fisheries and the coastwise trade upon compliance with the usual requirements, so long as such vessel is, from the date of enactment of this section, continuously owned by a citizen of the United States. For the purposes of this section, the term "citizen of the United States" includes corporations, partnerships, and associations, but only those which are citizens of the United States within the meaning of section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 U.S.C. 802). Approved October 7, 1980.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1221 (Comm. on Merchant Marine and Fisheries). SENATE REPORT No. 96-477 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 125 (1979): Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate. Vol. 126 (1980): Aug. 26, considered and passed House, amended. Sept. 19, Senate concurred in House amendments with amendments. Sept. 22, House agreed to Senate amendments.

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