[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HELMS:
  S. 692. A bill to issue a certificate of documentation for the vessel 
Eagle: to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, today I sending to the desk S. 692, a bill 
that would grant a waiver of the so-called Jones Act to the Scour Barge 
Eagle, a ship owned by the State of North Carolina. Enactment of this 
essential legislation will enable the Eagle to clear silt buildup on 
the river bottom along the dock and wharf facilities of the North 
Carolina State Ports Authority.
  The Scour Barge Eagle is an old U.S. Army barge outfitted with a pump 
and pipe system, commonly known as a ``scour jet.'' The ship directs 
pressured water at silt build-up points along areas adjacent to the 
docking facilities of the North Carolina State Ports Authority in 
Wilmington. Proper drafts at berths along the docking facilities must 
be maintained in order for ships to on-load and off-load cargo, 
especially bulk cargos.
  While it is clearly documented that the Scour Barge Eagle was built 
by Peden Steel Company in Raleigh, around 1943, this legislation is 
nevertheless essential because the State of North Carolina is unable to 
establish a continuous title chain. In the past Congress has passed 
similar legislation to grant Jones Act waivers so that similar vessels 
could operate in the coastwise trades.
  Mr. President, a bill identical to the one I'm offering today was 
incorporated into S. 1089, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2000, 
which the Senate approved by unanimous consent last year. The House 
failed to pass the Senate bill, making it necessary to re-introduce 
this bill as I am doing today.
  I do hope that the Senate will swiftly adopt this legislation. I ask 
unanimous consent that a copy of the text of this bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 692

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

     SECTION 1. CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE EAGLE.

       Notwithstanding section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 
     (46 U.S.C. App. 883), chapter 121 of title 46, United States 
     Code, and section 1 of the Act of May 28, 1906 (46 U.S.C. 
     App. 292), the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a 
     certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for 
     employment in the coastwise trade for the vessel EAGLE (hull 
     number BK-1754, United States official number 1091389) if the 
     vessel--
       (1) is owned by a State, a political subdivision of a 
     State, or a public authority chartered by a State;
       (2) if chartered, is chartered to a State, a political 
     subdivision of a State, or a public authority chartered by a 
     State;
       (3) is operated only in conjunction with--
       (A) scour jet operations; or
       (B) dredging services adjacent to facilities owned by the 
     State, political subdivision, or public authority; and
       (4) is externally identified clearly as a vessel of that 
     State, subdivision, or authority.
                                 ______