[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE:
  S. 1559. A bill to amend the Ports and Waterways Safety Act to 
provide that certain information be provided before a vessel arrives in 
United States waters; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Transparent 
Sea Act of 2001.
  The Coast Guard is a multi-mission agency charged with maintaining 
our national defense and the safety of our citizens. This is an 
extraordinary time in our Nation's history and we need to act now and 
provide the Coast Guard with all of the tools and information necessary 
to protect our Nation's waterways. This bill allows the Coast Guard to 
gather vital information about incoming vessels before they reach our 
ports. This allows them to be pro-active and prevent potential threats 
from reaching our shores. The sum total of all of our available 
resources and knowledge must be brought to bear in the defense of our 
country.
  Specifically, my bill would authorize the Coast Guard to obtain the 
information needed to achieve a greater awareness of possible maritime 
threats. The bill requires vessels to submit to the Coast Guard 
prearrival messages not later than 96 hours prior to entering U.S. 
waters, or such time as deemed necessary by the Secretary of 
Transportation. This will provide the Coast Guard time to thoroughly 
examine the information, including the name and flag-country of the 
vessel, a detailed crew and passenger list, the vessel's cargo, and the 
port the vessel last departed from. Such a database allows the Coast 
Guard to track patterns and identify potential problems. The Coast 
Guard could then deny entry to any vessel that does not meet the 
notification or listing requirements and intercept any vessels that may 
pose a threat.
  The American people place very high expectations on the Coast Guard. 
It is incumbent upon us to provide them with the information they need 
to fulfill those expectations. The Transparent Sea Act of 2001 has the 
support of the Coast Guard and I look forward to moving the bill to the 
Senate floor at the earliest opportunity.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1559

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Transparent Sea Act of 
     2001''.

     SEC. 2. PREARRIVAL MESSAGES FROM VESSELS DESTINED TO UNITED 
                   STATES PORTS.

       Section 4(a)(5) of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (33 
     U.S.C. 1223(a)(5)) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(5)(A) may require the receipt of prearrival messages 
     from any vessel destined for a port or place subject to the 
     jurisdiction of the United States, not later than 96 hours 
     before the vessel's arrival or such time as deemed necessary 
     under regulations promulgated by the Secretary to thoroughly 
     examine all information provided, which shall include with 
     respect to the vessel--
       ``(i) the route and name of each port and each place of 
     destination in the United States;
       ``(ii) the estimated date and time of arrival at each port 
     or place;
       ``(iii) the name of the vessel;
       ``(iv) the country of registry of the vessel;
       ``(v) the call sign of the vessel;
       ``(vi) the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
     international number or, if the vessel does not have an 
     assigned IMO international number, the official number of the 
     vessel;
       ``(vii) the name of the registered owner of the vessel;
       ``(viii) the name of the operator of the vessel;
       ``(ix) the name of the classification society of the 
     vessel;
       ``(x) a general description of the cargo on board the 
     vessel;
       ``(xi) in the case of certain dangerous cargo--
       ``(I) the name and description of the dangerous cargo;
       ``(II) the amount of the dangerous cargo carried;
       ``(III) the stowage location of the dangerous cargo; and
       ``(IV) the operational condition of the equipment under 
     section 164.35 of title 33 of the Code of Federal 
     Regulations;
       ``(xii) the date of departure and name of the port from 
     which the vessel last departed;
       ``(xiii) the name and telephone number of a 24-hour point 
     of contact for each port included in the notice of arrival;
       ``(xiv) the location or position of the vessel at the time 
     of the report;
       ``(xv) a list of crew members onboard the vessel including 
     with respect to each crew member--
       ``(I) the full name;
       ``(II) the date of birth;
       ``(III) the nationality;
       ``(IV) the passport number or mariners document number; and
       ``(V) the position or duties;
       ``(xvi) a list of persons other than crew members onboard 
     the vessel including with respect to each such person--
       ``(I) the full name;
       ``(II) the date of birth;
       ``(III) the nationality; and
       ``(IV) the passport number; and
       ``(xvii) any other information required by the Secretary; 
     and
       ``(B) any changes to the information required by 
     subparagraph (A), except changes in the arrival or departure 
     time of less than six hours, must be reported as soon as 
     practicable but not less than 24 hours before entering the 
     port of destination.

     The Secretary may deny entry of a vessel into the territorial 
     sea of the United States if the Secretary has not received 
     notification for the vessel in accordance with paragraph 
     (5).''.
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