Vessel Modification Act of 1991

Vessel Modification Act of 1991 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 to replace provisions prohibiting coastwise shipping by a vessel rebuilt outside the United States with provisions prohibiting coastwise trade by a vessel if any repair, alteration, improvement, modernization, or other change is performed outside the United States, except for minimum emergency repairs sufficient to travel to a U.S. point for additional repairs.

 
HR 1579 IH
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 1579
To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, to redefine rebuilding of vessels
permitted to engage in coastwise trade, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 1991
Mr. PICKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
A BILL
To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, to redefine rebuilding of vessels
permitted to engage in coastwise trade, and for other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Vessel Modification Act of 1991'.
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION OF VESSELS REPAIRED OUTSIDE UNITED STATES FROM ENGAGING
IN COASTWISE TRADE.
  (a) IN GENERAL- Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46
  App. U.S.C. 883), is amended by striking the second proviso and inserting
  the following: `Provided further, That a vessel documented under chapter
  121 of title 46, United States Code, may not engage in the coastwise trade
  if any repair, alteration, improvement, modernization, or other change to
  the vessel is performed outside the United States, its territories (not
  including trust territories), and its possessions, other than emergency
  repairs which are the minimum work required to make the vessel sufficiently
  seaworthy to travel to an appropriate point in the United States to obtain
  additional repairs:'.
SEC. 3. APPLICATION.
  (a) NEW REPAIRS- The amendment made by section 2 shall apply to any
  repair, alteration, improvement, modernization, or other change to a
  vessel performed under a contract entered into on or after the date of
  the enactment of this Act.
  (b) PRIOR REPAIRS- The second proviso of section 27 of the Merchant Marine
  Act, 1920, as in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act,
  shall apply to a repair, alteration, improvement, modernization, or other
  change to a vessel performed under a contract entered into before the date
  of the enactment of this Act, as if section 2 of this Act were not enacted.