b'LEGISLATIVE REPORT:Coast Guard Bill Becomes LEGISLATIVELaw, Includes Response toConceptionCasualtyED WELCH // PVA LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORA s one of its last actions, the 116th Congress enacted the Elijah Increased fi detection and suppression systems (including E.CummingsCoastGuardAuthorizationActof2020.re This occurred on the fi rst day of 2021, when the U.S. Senateadditional fi re extinguishers) in unmanned areas with machinery voted to override President Trumps veto of the National Defenseor areas with other potential heat sources; andAuthorization Act (the House had voted to override a few days earlier). The handling, storage, and operation of fl ammable items, such The Coast Guard Act was part of the larger defense bill, now denotedas rechargeable batteries, including lithium-ion batteries utilized Public Law 116-283.Congress traditionally approves a Coast Guardfor commercial purposes.authorization bill toward the end of its two-year legislative session.OfmostinteresttothePassengerVesselAssociationissectionInaddition,foracoveredsmallpassengervesselwithovernight 8441(RegulationsforCoveredSmallPassengerVessels).Thisaccommodations for passengers, the regulations must address:isthelegislativeresponsetothefi ontheovernightdivingreInstallationanduseofmonitoringdevicestoensurethe vesselConceptionin southern California on September 2, 2019, withwakefulnessofthecrewmemberormembersassignedasthe 34 fatalities.The November 2020 issue of FOGHORN carried aroving night watch;report on the status of the legislation.Forallpassenger-carryingvessels,theCoastGuardisdirectedto The provision of no less than two independent avenues of considerregulationstogovernsafetyissuesthatmayarisefromescape that allow for free and unobstructed egress from all general rechargeabledevices(suchasbatteries)utilizedonthevesselforareas accessible to passengers.They are to be located so that if one personal or commercial electronic equipment. avenue of escape is rendered unusable, another avenue of escape is available.No avenue of escape is to be located directly above, or Other aspects of section 8441 are directed at only a distinct subsetdependent on, a berth;of vessels operated by PVA members. These provisions apply to a Passenger emergency egress drills which shall occur prior to the covered small passenger vessel. This term embraces a small passengervessel beginning each excursion; andvessel of less than 100 gross tons providing overnight accommodations for passengers, regardless of the vessels area of operations, and also Each passenger is to be given a copy of the vessels emergency includes a small passenger vessel of less than 100 gross tons authorizedegress plan.to operate on oceans or coastwise routes (thereby applying to many whalewatching and charter fi vessels that venture out into theshingSeveral other provisions of the Coast Guard bill are of interest to the ocean for day-only trips. A ferry, regardless of its area of operation, ispassenger vessel sector. For example, section 8257 directs the Government excluded from the term. Accountability Office (GAO) to review and report on the marine inspection With respect to covered small passenger vessels, the Coast Guard is toprogram of the Coast Guard. Required elements of review include:the undertake a comprehensive review of existing requirements and then isdemand for marine inspectors; the identifi cation of the number of fully to develop regulations intended to provide more fi re protection.Thesequalifi ed Coast Guard marine inspectors; a determination of whether there regulations are to address: are enough marine inspectors to meet the demand for them; a comparison of enlisted and civilian marine inspectors; and an examination of extending Marinefi instructionprogramstoimprovethetourofdutyformarineinspectorsandincreasingthenumberofrefi ghtingcivilian inspectors.crewmember training and profi ciency, including emergency egress training for each member of the crew.The training isSection 8284 directs the Coast Guard to review how it enforces buff er zones to take place at least monthly during the operating season andand other vessel regulations for the protection of the endangered Southern whenever a new person joins the crew; Resident population of killer whales in Puget Sound, WA.The Coast Interconnectedfi detectionequipment,includingGuard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shouldreattempt to reduce vessel noise that can be harmful to the killer whales. The audible and visual alarms, plus additional fi extinguishersreCoast Guard is to consult with the maritime industry in this undertaking.and other fi equipment, in all areas of the vesselrefi ghting wherepassengersandcrewhaveaccess,(includingdiningSection 8301 will enable certain vessels already mandated to carry electronic areas, sleeping quarters, and lounges);LEGISLATIVE REPORT 26 FOGHORN'