S 2430
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2430
To prevent maritime emergencies, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 6, 2007
Mrs. BOXER (for herself and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To prevent maritime emergencies, and for other purposes.
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 `Maritime Emergency Prevention Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY.
(a) In General- Chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new section:
`Sec. 99. Emergency command authority
`(a) In General- Using the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) maintained under
the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 (Public Law 107-340; 33 U.S.C.
1221 et seq.), the Secretary may command the person directing the movements
of a vessel to modify the speed or direction of a vessel in the event
of an emergency or hazardous conditions as determined by the local Coast
Guard VTS director.
`(b) Limitation on Civil Actions-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a civil
action for damages may not be filed in any Federal or State court
against the Secretary or any officer in relation to the exercise of
authority under this section.
`(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section may be construed
to limit any immunity, privilege, or defense under any other provision
of law.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
`99. Emergency command authority.'.
SEC. 3. LAPTOP NAVIGATION REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERALLY LICENSED PILOTS.
The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall require that, beginning not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, any
pilot licensed under subtitle II of title 46, United States Code, who
directs the movement of a vessel in circumstances in which the applicable
State or local pilotage authority determines that utilization of a laptop
computer equipped with a navigation system aboard is practicable and
necessary, the pilot shall carry and utilize a laptop computer so equipped
for navigation purposes.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the upgrading
of Coast Guard equipment and technology for the Vessel Traffic Service.
END
