House of Representatives Passes Coast Guard Authorization Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011 on November 15 by voice vote. Like other Coast Guard bills, this measure contains a number of provisions of interest to the commercial maritime industry, including:

• a nationwide ballast water treatment standard mandate to replace varying state standards;
• piracy related provisions including a requirement that the U.S. Government reimburse U.S.-flag shipowners for private armed security teams;
• an exclusion of classification societies from performing Coast Guard delegated functions if they perform services in sanctioned countries such as Iran;
• mandating the use of standby vessels in connection with oil and gas operations;
• waiving Jones Act-related requirements for the transportation of passengers within Puerto Rico, for several cargo vessels, for three Liquified Natural Gas tank vessels and an Alaskan dry dock;
• eliminating Coast Guard ombudsman (only recently required by Congress); and
• exempting U.S.-flag vessels from notice of arrival requirements except where arriving from a foreign port or place.