Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Bill Introduced

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced a bill entitled the “Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014” on February 6, 2014. Like other periodic Coast Guard bills, the recently introduced bill would make a number of maritime-related changes in addition to reauthorizing Coast Guard spending and making Coast Guard-related legislative changes including – altering the relationship between fishing permits and maritime liens, revising the definition of “high risk” waters for purposes of U.S.-flag anti-piracy provisions, amending the inspection delegation requirements for offshore supply vessels and requiring a report on International Maritime Organization Polar Code negotiations. It is likely that the bill will change substantially as it is considered by the Coast Guard Subcommittee as early as the week of February 10 as well as later in the legislative process.