PROVISIONS RELATING TO MARITIME SECURITY FLEET PROGRAM.

SEC. 3603. PROVISIONS RELATING TO MARITIME SECURITY FLEET PROGRAM. (a) Authority of Contractors To Operate Self-Propelled Tank Vessels in Noncontiguous Domestic Trades.—Section 656(b) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 1187e(b)) is amended by inserting “(1)” after “(b)”, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(2) Subsection (a) shall not apply to operation by a contractor of a self-propelled tank vessel in a noncontiguous domestic trade, or to ownership by a contractor of an interest in a self-propelled tank vessel that operates in a noncontiguous domestic trade.”. (b) Relief From Delay in Certain Operations Following Documentation.—Section 652(c) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 111 STAT. 2076(46 U.S.C. 1187a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “The restrictions of section 901(b)(1) of this Act concerning the building, rebuilding, or documentation of a vessel in a foreign country shall not apply to a vessel for any day the operator of that vessel is receiving payments under an operating agreement under this subtitle.”.