#aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session  ,s4   
#hi  ,,an ,,act  ,to amend title #df1   
,united ,states ,code1 to exempt old    
vessels that only operate within inland 
waterways from the fire-retardant       
materials requirement if the owners of  
such vessels make annual structural     
alterations to at least #aj percent of  
the areas of the vessels that are not   
constructed of fire-retardant materials 
and for other purposes4  #a4            
,fire-retardant materials exemption     
,section #cejc of title #df1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended to read as    
follows3  #cejc4 ,fire-retardant        
materials  7a7 7#a7 ,a passenger vessel 
of the ,united ,states having berth or  
stateroom accommodations for at least   
#ej passengers shall be granted a       
certificate of inspection only if--     
7,a7 the vessel is constructed of       
fire-retardant materials2 and  7,b7 the 
vessel--  7i7 is operating engines1     
boilers1 main electrical distribution   
panels1 fuel tanks1 oil tanks1 and      

generators that meet current ,coast     
,guard regulations2  7ii7 is operating  
boilers and main electrical generators  
that are contained within noncombustible
 enclosures equipped with fire          
suppression systems2 and  7iii7 has     
multiple forms of egress off the        
vessel's bow and stern4  7#b7 ,before   
,december #a1 #bjbh1 this section does  
not apply to any vessel in operation    
before ,january #a1 #aifh1 and operating
 only within the ,boundary ,line4  7b7  
7#a7 ,when a vessel is exempted from the
 fire-retardant standards of subsection 
7a7-- 7,a7 the owner or managing        
operator of the vessel shall--  7i7     
notify in writing prospective           
passengers1 prior to the sale of any    
ticket for boarding and to be           
affirmatively recognized by such        
passenger prior to purchase1 and any    
crew member that the vessel does not    
comply with applicable fire safety      
standards due primarily to the wooden   
construction of passenger berthing      

areas2 and  7ii7 display in clearly     
legible font prominently throughout the 
vessel1 including in each state room the
 following3 ,,this ,,vessel ,,fails ,,to
 ,,comply ,,with ,,safety ,,rules ,,and 
,,regulations ,,of ,,the ,u4,s4 ,,coast 
,,guard42  7,b7 the owner or managing   
operator of the vessel-- 7i7 may not    
disclaim liability to a passenger or    
crew member for death1 injury1 or any   
other loss caused by fire due to the    
negligence of the owner or managing     
operator2 and  7ii7 shall acquire prior 
to entering service1 and maintain1      
liability insurance in an amount to be  
prescribed by the ,federal ,maritime    
,commission2  7,c7 the penalties        
provided in section #cejd7;c7 of this   
title apply to a violation of this      
subsection2  7,d7 the owner or managing 
operator of the vessel shall--  7i7 make
 annual structural alteration to not    
less than #aj percent of the areas of   
the vessel that are not constructed of  
fire retardant materials2  7ii7         

prioritize alterations in galleys1      
engineering areas of the vessel1        
including all spaces and compartments   
containing1 or adjacent to spaces and   
compartments containing1 engines1       
boilers1 main electrical distribution   
panels1 fuel tanks1 oil tanks1 and      
generators2  7iii7 ensure1 to the       
satisfaction of the ,coast ,guard1 that 
the combustible fire-load has been      
reduced pursuant to clause 7i7 during   
each annual inspection for              
certification2 and  7iv7 provide advance
 notice to the ,coast ,guard regarding  
the structural alterations made pursuant
 to clause 7i7 and comply with any      
noncombustible material requirements    
prescribed by the ,coast ,guard2  7,e7  
the ,coast ,guard1 in making the        
determination required in subparagraph  
7,d77iii71 shall consider1 to the extent
 practicable1 the goal of preservation  
of the historic integrity of the vessel 
in areas carrying or accessible to      
passengers or generally visible to the  

public2  7,f7 the owner or managing     
operator of the vessel shall annually   
notify all ports of call and ,state     
emergency management offices of         
jurisdiction that the vessel does not   
comply with applicable fire safety      
standards due primarily to the wooden   
construction of passenger berthing      
areas2  7,g7 the crews manning such     
vessel shall receive specialized        
training1 above minimum standards1 in   
regards to shipboard firefighting that  
is specialized for exempted vessels and 
approved by the ,coast ,guard2 and  7,h7
 the owner or managing operator of the  
vessel shall1 to the extent practicable1
 take all steps to retain previously    
trained crew knowledgeable of such      
vessel or to hire crew trained in       
operations aboard exempted vessels4     
7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall conduct an   
annual audit and inspection of any      
vessel exempted from the fire-retardant 
standards of subsection 7a74  7c7 ,the  
,secretary shall prescribe regulations  

to carry out this section4 ,such        
regulations shall include the manner in 
which prospective passengers are to be  
notified4  7d7 ,in addition to other    
penalties permitted by law1 the         
,secretary is authorized to immediately 
withdraw a certificate of inspection for
 a passenger vessel that does not comply
 with any requirement under this        
section4  4  ,passed the ,senate ,april 
#c1 #bjag4,secretary