EQUIPMENT APPROVAL.

SEC. 604. EQUIPMENT APPROVAL. (a) In General.— Section 3306(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(b) (1) Equipment and material subject to regulation under this section may not be used on any vessel without prior approval of the Secretary. “(2) Except with respect to use on a public vessel, the Secretary may treat an approval of equipment or materials by a foreign 110 STAT. 3931government as approval by the Secretary for purposes of paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that— “(A) the design standards and testing procedures used by that government meet the requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974; “(B) the approval of the equipment or material by the foreign government will secure the safety of individuals and property on board vessels subject to inspection; and “(C) for lifesaving equipment, the foreign government— “(i) has given equivalent treatment to approvals of lifesaving equipment by the Secretary; and “(ii) otherwise ensures that lifesaving equipment approved by the Secretary may be used on vessels that are documented and subject to inspection under the laws of that country”. (b) Foreign Approvals.— The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with other interested Federal agencies, shall work with foreign governments to have those governments approve the use of the same equipment and materials on vessels documented under the laws of those countries that the Secretary requires on United States documented vessels. (c) Technical Amendment.— Section 3306(a)(4) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “clauses (1)–(3)” and inserting “paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)”.