SAFETY OF VESSELS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

SEC. 318. SAFETY OF VESSELS OF THE ARMED FORCES. (a) In General.—Section 527 of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking “naval vessels” and inserting “vessels of the Armed Forces”; (2) in subsection (a), by striking “United States naval vessel” and inserting “vessel of the Armed Forces”; (3) in subsection (b)— (A) by striking “senior naval officer present in command” and inserting “senior officer present in command”; and (B) by striking “United States naval vessel” and inserting “vessel of the Armed Forces”; and (4) by adding at the end the following: “(e) For purposes of this title, the term ‘vessel of the Armed Forces’ means— “(1) any vessel owned or operated by the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, other than a time- or voyage-chartered vessel; and “(2) any vessel owned and operated by the Department of Transportation that is designated by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating as a vessel equivalent to a vessel described in paragraph (1).” . (b) [14 U.S.C. 501] Clerical Amendment.—The analysis for chapter 5 of title 14, United States Code, is further amended by striking the item relating to section 527 and inserting the following: “527. Safety of vessels of the Armed Forces.” . (c) Conforming Amendments.—Section 2510(a)(1) of title 14, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking “armed forces” and inserting “Armed Forces”; and (2) by striking “section 101(a) of title 10” and inserting “section 527(e)”.