AMENDMENTS TO THE SHIPPING ACT, 1916.

SEC. 304. AMENDMENTS TO THE SHIPPING ACT, 1916. (a) Exemption From Requirement of Approval by Secretary.—Section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 App. U.S.C. 808), is amended in subsection (c)(1) by inserting “or the last documentation of which was under the laws of the United States” before the semicolon at the end; (2) in subsection (c)(2) by inserting “, or a vessel the last documentation of which was under the laws of the United States,” after “a documented vessel”; (3) in subsection (d) (1) and (2), by striking “or control in” and inserting “in or control of’; and (4) adding the following new paragraph: “(4) A person that charters, sells, transfers, or mortgages a vessel, or an interest in or control of a vessel, in violation of this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.”. (b) Remission of Forfeiture.—Section 38 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 App. U.S.C. 836) is amended by striking “duties.” and inserting “duties, except that forfeitures may be remitted without seizure of the vessel.”.