“A bill to establish a process for waiver of coastwise endorsement requirements.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a temporary waiver authority for coastwise endorsement requirements under 46 U.S.C. 12112(a)—which generally requires vessels to be U.S.-built (or qualify under limited exceptions) and meet documentation standards under section 12103 to engage in coastwise trade (i.e., transportation of merchandise or passengers between U.S. points)—in cases where no qualifying U.S.-flag product carrier (i.e., vessel constructed or adapted to carry a specified good in bulk) is available. The head of an agency administering navigation or vessel inspection laws must grant a waiver upon request if the requester demonstrates product carrier scarcity for a specified good and a good faith effort to locate a qualifying vessel. Waivers are limited in duration (expiring no sooner than 30 days after issuance), with extensions of at least 15 days each available without delay if circumstances are substantially unchanged; agencies must approve or deny requests within 60 days (deemed granted after 61 days for 30 days if no response), and provide findings within 14 days of any denial. Agencies must notify Congress of waiver requests and issuances within 48 hours (including detailed explanations for approvals).