[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2430-S2431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PELL:
  S. 1631. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue 
a certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for 
employment in the coastwise trade for the vessel Extreme, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


                coastwise trading privileges legislation

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I am introducing a bill today to direct that 
the vessel Extreme, official No. 1022278, be accorded coastwise trading 
privileges and be issued a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12106 
through 12108.
  The Extreme is 70.9 feet in length, 18 feet in breadth, has a depth 
of 10.8 feet, and is self-propelled.
  The purpose of the legislation I am introducing is to allow the 
Extreme to engage in coastwise trade and fisheries of the United 
States. When the owners purchased the boat, they were unaware of the 
coastwise trade and fisheries restrictions of the Jones Act. They 
assumed that there would be no restrictions on engaging the vessel in 
such limited operation. Although the vessel was constructed in North 
Carolina, it was built for a foreign customer; thus it did not meet the 
coastwise license endorsement in the United States. Such documentation 
is mandatory to enable the owner to use the vessel for its intended 
purpose.
  The owners of the Extreme are therefore seeking a waiver of the 
existing law because they wish to engage the vessel in limited 
commercial use. Their desired intentions for the vessel's use will not 
adversely affect the coastwise trade in U.S. waters. If they are 
granted this waiver, it is their intention to comply fully with U.S. 
documentation and safety requirements.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
my statement be printed in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1631

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION.

       Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 
     (46 U.S.C. App. 883),

[[Page S2431]]

     section 8 of the Act of June 19, 1886 (24 Stat. 81, chapter 
     421; 46 U.S.C. App. 289), and sections 12106 through 12108 of 
     title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation 
     may issue a certificate of documentation with appropriate 
     endorsement for employment in the coastwise trade for the 
     vessel EXTREME, United States official number 1022278.

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