No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes an exception to the U.S. citizenship and ownership requirements otherwise applicable under 46 U.S.C. §12103(a) for issuing certificates of documentation to vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products. The exception does not apply to (1) a vessel owned in whole or in part by a Russian national or the Government of the Russian Federation, (2) a Russian-flagged vessel, (3) a vessel with any crewmember who is a Russian national, (4) a vessel owned in whole or in part by a Chinese national or the People's Republic of China, (5) a Chinese-flagged vessel, or (6) a vessel with any crewmember who is a Chinese national. (As background, certificates of documentation with coastwise endorsements under 46 U.S.C. §12112 enable vessels to engage in Jones Act coastwise trade—i.e., transport of merchandise between U.S. ports—which generally requires U.S. ownership, citizenship control, and other criteria. Thus, the exception permits qualifying foreign vessels to participate in such trade.) This section further amends 46 U.S.C. §12112(a)(2)(B) to include vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products among those eligible for coastwise endorsements.