H.R. 3151

SHIPS for America Act of 2025

Sponsor: Trent Kelly

145 cosponsors
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I Oversight and accountability

II Maritime Security Trust Fund

III Sealift capability

IV Vessels of the United States in international commerce

A Strategic sealift programs

B Cargo preference

C Regulatory reform

Sec. 431. Alternate standards

(a) In general. Chapter 33 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 3317 and 3318 as sections 3318 and 3319, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 3316 the following:

Text this section adds to the law

3317. Alternate standards

(a) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act of 2025, the Secretary, in consultation with the Maritime Administrator, shall establish alternate standards to allow self-propelled vessels providing oceangoing transportation that are not documented under chapter 121 of this title to receive a certificate of inspection if the vessel will become a documented vessel.

(b) Requirements. Under the program established under subsection (a), a self-propelled vessel used to provide oceangoing transportation that is not documented under chapter 121 of this title shall be eligible for a certificate of inspection if the Secretary determines that—

(1) the owner of the vessel has agreed to apply to have the vessel documented under chapter 121 upon receiving the certificate;

(2) at the time of the receipt of such certificate, the vessel is eligible for documentation under such chapter;

(3) the vessel is classed by and designed in accordance with the rules of a classification society accepted by the Secretary;

(4) the vessel complies with applicable international agreements and associated guidelines, as determined by the country in which the vessel was documented immediately before becoming documented under chapter 121, notwithstanding any other law including any regulation;

(5) the vessel has been assessed for cybersecurity and surveillance risks; and

(6) the country in which the vessel was documented immediately before becoming documented under chapter 121 has not been identified by the Secretary as inadequately enforcing international vessel regulations as to that vessel.

(c) Continued eligibility for certificate. This section does not apply to a vessel after any date on which the vessel fails to comply with the applicable international agreements and associated guidelines referred to in subsection (b)(4).

(d) Reliance on classification society

(1) In general. The Secretary may rely on a certification from the American Bureau of Shipping or, subject to paragraph (2), another classification society accepted by the Secretary to establish that a vessel is in compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), and (6) of subsection (b) and of subsection (c).

(2) Foreign classification society. The Secretary may accept certification from a foreign classification society under paragraph (1) only—

(A) to the extent that the government of the foreign country in which the society is headquartered provides access on a reciprocal basis to the American Bureau of Shipping; and

(B) if the foreign classification society has offices and maintains records in the United States.

(e) Rulemaking procedure. The Secretary may initiate a rulemaking procedure to implement this standard.

(f) Savings provision. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to affect requirements related to merchant seamen credentials under part E of subtitle II of this title or the requirements related to manning of vessels under part F of such subtitle.

(b) Clerical amendment. The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to sections 3317 and 3318 and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

3317. Alternate standards.3318. Fees.3319. Penalties.

V Shipbuilding

A Shipbuilding financial incentives

B Department of Defense Programs

C Shipbuilding innovation and infrastructure

VI Workforce Development

A Workforce incentives

B Workforce Pipeline

C United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies

D Maritime Credentialing Modernization

VII Amendments to the internal revenue code of 1986