A bill to amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, and for other purposs.

Summary

Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 to modify the penalty for transportation of merchandise between points in the United States in other than domestically built or rebuilt and documented vessels to impose a penalty, in the case of transportation of valueless material, in the amount of the value of the transportation provided. Applies such provision to the transportation of valueless material, and any dredged material, regardless of whether it has commercial value, from a point in the United States, or on the high seas within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), to another point in the United States or on the high seas within the EEZ. Declares that the transportation of any platform jacket in or on a launch barge shall not be deemed transportation which is subject to this provision if the barge meets certain requirements. Amends Federal law to make applicable to the towing of a vessel transporting valueless material, and any dredged material, from a point in the United States or on the high seas within the EEZ to a point in the United States or on the high seas within the EEZ current provisions prohibiting the towing of vessels by vessels not owned by a citizen of the United States and documented under provisions of Federal law. Permits a documented vessel to transport municipal sewage sludge to a deepwater disposal site designated under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, provided such vessel, as of enactment of this Act, is under construction or contract for use by a municipality for the transportation of sewage sludge. Declares that, for purposes of a provision of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 regarding forbidden practices in coastwise service, a vessel documented under U.S. laws and under contract with a municipality for the transportation of sewage sludge as of enactment of this Act is not a vessel engaged in domestic intercoastal or coastwise service. Provides that such vessels are bound by a provision prohibiting the diversion of any money, property, or other thing of value, used in foreign-trade operations, for which a subsidy is paid by the United States, into any coastwise or intercoastal operations. Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue a coastwise certificate of documentation, endorsed to restrict use of the vessel to transportation of valueless material, to a vessel which meets certain requirements.

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Documents

4 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 8 June 1988

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• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 18 May 1988

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 4 May 1988

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 21 December 1987

  Open at official source

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