APPLICABILITY DATE FOR REVISED REGULATIONS.

SEC. 513. APPLICABILITY DATE FOR REVISED REGULATIONS. (a) Applicability Date for Certain Chartered Vessels.— Revised regulations governing small passenger vessels and passenger vessels (as the definitions of those terms in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code, are amended by this Act) shall not, before the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, apply to such vessels when chartered with no crew provided. (b) Extension of Period.— The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall extend for up to 30 additional months or until issuance of a certificate of inspection, whichever occurs first, the period of inapplicability specified in subsection (a) if the owner of the vessel concerned carries out the provisions of subsection (c) to the satisfaction of the Secretary. (c) Conditions for Extension.— To receive an extension authorized by subsection (b), the owner of the vessel shall— (1) make application for inspection with the Coast Guard within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act; (2) make the vessel available for examination by the Coast Guard prior to the carriage of passengers; (3) (A) correct especially any hazardous conditions involving the vessel’s structure, electrical system, and machinery installation, such as (i) grossly inadequate, missing, unsound, or severely deteriorated frames or major structural members; (ii) wiring systems or electrical appliances without proper grounding or overcurrent protection; and (iii) significant fuel or exhaust system leaks; (B) equip the vessel with lifesaving and fire fighting equipment, or the portable equivalent, required for the route and number of persons carried; and (C) verify through stability tests, calculations, or other practical means (which may include a history of safe operations) that the vessel’s stability is satisfactory for the size, route, and number of passengers; and (4) develop a work plan approved by the Coast Guard to complete in a good faith effort all requirements necessary for issuance of a certificate of inspection as soon as practicable. (d) Operation of Vessel During Extension Period.— The owner of a vessel receiving an extension under this section shall operate the vessel under the conditions of route, service, number of passengers, manning, and equipment as may be prescribed by the Coast Guard for the extension period.