I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1100 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2009 Mrs. Tauscher introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To authorize the Commandant of the Coast Guard to issue regulations that require certain pilots on vessels operating in designated waters to carry and utilize a portable electronic device equipped for navigational purposes, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Vessel Navigation and Safety Improvement Act.

2.

Requirement for pilots to carry and utilize portable electronic navigational device

The Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 4A the following:

4B.

Portable electronic device for navigation purposes

(a)

In General

The Commandant of the Coast Guard may issue regulations that— (1)require that any pilot licensed under subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, while serving under the authority of that license as pilot on a covered vessel operating in waters designated in the regulation shall carry and utilize a portable electronic device that is— (A)equipped for navigational purposes; and (B)capable of being connected to an Automatic Identification System; and (2)require such pilots to obtain training in the use of such electronic devices, and prescribe requirements for such training after consultation with State or local pilotage authorities on specific equipment and practices in the waters designated in the regulation. (b)

Determination of Need

The Commandant shall consult with State or local pilotage authorities for the waters covered by the regulations to determine if the carriage and use of such portable electronic devices would improve safe navigation under local conditions and whether there is a need for mandatory carriage requirements. (c)

Covered Vessel Defined

In this section the term covered vessel means a self-propelled commercial vessel of 300 gross tons or more that does not have an electronic chart prescribed under section 4A.

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