All 70 Stat. 154.

Appropriation.

Separability.

SEC. 9. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. If any provisions of this Act, or the application of any provision of this Act to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances. and the remainder of this Act, shall not be affected thereby. Approved May 10, 1956.

To authorize the construction and conversion of certain naval vessels, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Patrol vessels. United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is hereby authorized to undertake the construction of, or to acquire and convert, not to exceed twenty-eight hundred tons of patrol vessels. SEC. 2. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary for the construction or for the acquisition and conversion of the foregoing vessels.

Appropriation.

Approved May 14, 1956.

To amend the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 so as to provide for the utilization of privately owned shipping services in connection with the transportation of privately owned vehicles.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 901 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended, is amended by adding 68 Stat. 832. at the end thereof a new subsection as follows:

"(c) That notwithstanding any other provision of law, privately owned American shipping services may be utilized for the transportation of motor vehicles owned by Government personnel whenever transportation of such vehicles at Government expense is otherwise authorized by law."

Approved May 28, 1956.

46 USC 1241.

To amend section 4482 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (46 U. S. C. 475), relating to life preservers for river steamers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 4482 River steamers. of the Revised Statutes, as amended, is amended to read as follows: Life preservers. "SEC. 4482. Every steam vessel navigating rivers only shall also be 46 USC 475. provided with an approved life preserver for each and every person 70 Stat. 222. allowed to be carried on said vessel by the certificate of inspection, 70 Stat. 223. including each member of the crew, which life preservers shall be kept in convenient and accessible places on such vessel in readiness for immediate use in case of accident. In lieu of an approved life preserver for each such person, the head of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating may permit the use of such proportion of approved floats to the total number of persons carried or authorized to be carried as he may determine."

Approved June 4, 1956.

Chapter 350 2d Session
S. 743

AN ACT

To authorize biennial inspection of the hulls and boilers of cargo vessels, and for other purposes.

Biennial inspeo-
tion.
33 Stat. 1023.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 4417 Cargo vessels. of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C., 1952 edition, title 46, sec. 391), is further amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4417. (a) The head of the department in which the Coast Steam vessels. Guard is operating shall require the Coast Guard to inspect before the same shall be put into service, and at least once in every year thereafter, the hull of every steam vessel carrying passengers; to determine to its satisfaction that every such vessel so submitted to inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for passengers and the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation, with safety to life, and that the vessel is in full compliance with the applicable requirements of this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto and regulations thereunder; and if deemed expedient, to direct the vessel to be put in motion or to adopt any other suitable means to test her sufficiency and that of her equipment.

"(b) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require the Coast Guard to inspect before the same shall be put into service, and at least once in every two years thereafter, the hull of each steam vessel, not carrying passengers; to determine to its satisfaction that every such vessel so submitted to inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation, with safety to life, and that the vessel is in full compliance with the applicable requirements of this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto and regulations thereunder; and if deemed expedient, to direct the vessel to be put in motion or to adopt any other suitable means to test her sufficiency and that of her equipment.

"(c) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is Sail vessels. operating shall require the Coast Guard to inspect before the same shall be put into service, and at least once in every year thereafter, the hull of each sail vessel of over seven hundred gross tons carrying passengers for hire and all other vessels and barges of over one hundred gross tons carrying passengers for hire; and to determine to its satisfaction that every such vessel so submitted to inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the passengers and crew, and is in condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation 70 Stat. 223. with safety to life.

70 Stat. 224.

"(d) Whenever it is found on board any vessel subject to the Requirements provisions of this title, or any Acts amendatory or supplementary and enforcement. thereto, that any equipment, machinery, apparatus, or appliances do not conform to the requirements of law or regulations promulgated thereunder, the owner or master of said vessel shall be required to place the same in proper condition; and if there shall be found on board any such vessel any life preserver or fire hose so defective as to be incapable of repair, the owner or master shall be required to destroy the same in the presence of an official designated by the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. In any of the foregoing cases the requirements may be enforced by revoking the certificate of said vessel, and by refusing to issue a new certificate until the requirements have been fully complied with. In any case Appeals.

Exemptions.

33 Stat. 1029.

46 USC 404, 405. 48 Stat. 125.

Boilers, unfired pressure vessels, etc.

Hydrostatio tests.

70 Stat. 225.

where the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating has delegated to a Coast Guard official the authority to enforce the said requirements by revocation of certificates of inspection, the action of said Coast Guard official may be reversed, modified, or set aside by the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating on proper appeal by the owner or master of said vessel. Appeals shall be made to the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating within thirty days after the final action of the aforesaid Coast Guard official.

"(e) Vessels subject to inspection under this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto while laid up and dismantled and out of commission may, by regulations established by the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, be exempted from any or all inspection under sections 4417, 4418, 4426, and 1427 of the Revised Statutes."

SEC. 2. Section 4418 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C., 1952 edition, title 46, sec. 392), is further amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4418. (a) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require the Coast Guard to inspect, before the same shall be put into service and once at least in every year thereafter, the boilers, unfired pressure vessels, and appurtenances thereof, also the propelling and auxiliary machinery, electrical apparatus and equipment, of all passenger vessels subject to inspection.

(b) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating also shall require the Coast Guard to inspect, before the same shall be put into service and at least once in every two years thereafter, the boilers, unfired pressure vessels, and appurtenances thereof, also the propelling and auxiliary machinery, electrical apparatus and equipment, of all vessels subject to inspection other than passenger vessels.

"(c) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require the Coast Guard to determine to its satisfaction by thorough examination that the boilers, unfired pressure vessels, and appurtenances thereof, also the propelling and auxiliary machinery, electrical apparatus and equipment of all vessels which are subject to inspection under subsections (a) and (b) herein are in conformity with law and the rules and regulations of the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, and may be safely employed in the service proposed. No boiler, unfired pressure vessel, or appurtenances thereof shall be allowed to be used if constructed in whole or in part of defective material or which because of its form, design, workmanship, age, use, or for any other reason is unsafe.

"(d) At each original inspection and at each annual or biennial inspection thereafter, whichever is applicable, all boilers, unfired 70 Stat. 224.pressure vessels, and main steam piping shall be subjected to hydrostatic tests or such other tests as may be prescribed by the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. The ratio of the hydrostatic test to the maximum working pressure shall be determined by action of the head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating."

Seagoing barges.

SEC. 3. Section 10 of the Act of May 28, 1908 (ch. 212, 35 Stat. 428, as amended (U. S. C., 1952 edition, title 46, sec. 395)) is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 10. (a) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall require the Coast Guard to inspect, before the same shall be put into service and at least once in every year thereafter, the hull and equipment of every seagoing barge of one hundred gross tons or over carrying passengers; and to determine to its satisfaction that

such barge is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the crew and passengers, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation with safety to life.

"(b) The head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating also shall require the Coast Guard to inspect, before the same shall be put into service and at least once in every two years thereafter, the hull and equipment of every seagoing barge of one hundred gross tons or over, not carrying passengers; and to determine to its satisfaction that such barge is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for the crew, if manned, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation with safety to life.

"(c) Upon the satisfactory completion of the inspection authorized Certificate of inspection. herein, a certificate of inspection shall be issued in the manner and for the purposes prescribed in sections 4421 and 4423 of the Revised 69 Stat. 863. 38 Stat. 1217. Statutes." 46 USC 399,400.

33 Stat. 1023.

notice for

SEC. 4. Section 4453 of the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C., 1952 edition, title 46, sec. 435) is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 4453. In addition to the annual or biennial inspection, the Reinspections; head of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall repairs. require the Coast Guard to examine, at proper times, inspected vessels arriving and departing to and from their respective ports, so often as to enable them to detect any neglect to comply with the requirements of law, and also any defects or imperfections becoming apparent after the inspection aforesaid, and tending to render the navigation of such vessels unsafe; and if there shall be discovered any omission to comply with the law, or that repairs have become necessary to make such vessel safe, the master shall at once be notified in writing as to what is required. All inspections and orders for repair shall be made promptly. When it can be done safely, repairs may be permitted to be made where those interested can most conveniently do them. And whenever it is ascertained that any vessel subject to the provisions of this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto, has been or is being navigated or operated without complying with the terms of the vessel's certificate of inspection regarding the number and class of licensed officers and crew, or without complying with the provisions of law and her said certificate as to the number or kind of life-saving or fire-fighting apparatus, or without maintaining in good and efficient condition her lifeboats, fire pumps, fire hose, and life preservers, or that for any other reason said vessel cannot be operated with safety to life, the owner or master of said vessel shall be ordered to correct such unlawful conditions, and the vessel may be required to cease navigating at once and to submit to reinspection; and in case the said Revocation of orders shall not at once be complied with, the vessel's certificate of certificate, inspection shall be revoked, and the owner, master, or agent of said 70 Stat. 225. vessel shall immediately be given notice, in writing, of such revoca- 70 Stat. 226. tion; and no new certificate of inspection shall be again issued to her until the provisions of this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto have been complied with. Any vessel subject to the provisions Judicial of this title or Acts amendatory or supplementary thereto operating or process. navigating or attempting to operate or navigate after the revocation of her certificate of inspection and before the issuance of a new certificate, shall, upon application by a department or agency charged with the enforcement of such title or Acts, to any district court of the United States having jurisdiction, and by proper order or action of said court in the premises, be seized summarily by way of libel-and held without privilege of release by bail or bond until a proper certificate of inspection shall have been issued to said vessel: