H.R. 4839 — Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act

This section amends coastwise endorsement eligibility under 46 U.S.C. §12112(a)(2)(B) to include vessels built in a country listed on the new Foreign Ally Shipping Registry as of the endorsement issuance date; modifies the prohibition on coastwise trade privileges for rebuilt vessels under 46 U.S.C. §12132(b) to apply only if rebuilt in a non-Registry country (previously, any rebuild outside the U.S.); and adds §12132(c) barring coastwise trade by U.S.-eligible vessels built or rebuilt in a non-Registry country beginning on that country's Registry removal date. The section further adds a new 46 U.S.C. §55124, which (1) requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Coast Guard Commandant, to maintain the Foreign Ally Shipping Registry of U.S. allies for coastwise trade purposes—including all NATO members unless removed; (2) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to permit "qualified vessels" (i.e., those wholly owned by Registry country nationals/governments or mixtures with U.S. nationals, flagged in the U.S. or a Registry country) to transport merchandise in coastwise trade (i.e., between U.S. points, directly or via foreign ports) for up to five years, renewable in five-year increments, subject to revocation within 30 days of ineligibility (or immediately upon a country's removal, including for congressional war declarations); (3) requires owners to report changes within 30 days; and (4) exempts qualified vessels' crews—who are U.S. or Registry country nationals—from U.S. citizenship and credentialing requirements under 46 U.S.C. §§8103 and 8701. (Thus, the changes create targeted Jones Act exceptions for U.S. allies to facilitate their vessels' participation in protected domestic waterborne commerce.)

This section adds an exemption from the 50 percent ad valorem duty on foreign repairs to U.S.-documented vessels under 19 U.S.C. 1466(a) for the cost of repairs performed in a shipyard located in a country listed on the Foreign Ally Shipping Registry (pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 55124(d)), with respect to documented vessels (as defined in 46 U.S.C. 106). (Thus, such repairs are not subject to duty upon the vessel's first U.S. arrival.)