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of the cargo oil transported in US waters in a single-hull tank vessel will be in- cluded as a responsible party for purposes of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). The Authorization Act also includes provisions implementing for the United

States the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Sys- tems on Ships, 2001.

Planning and Studies

The Coast Guard is directed to conduct a study of positioning systems that might be supplemental to the global positioning system (GPS). This sounds like an at- tempt to revive Loran (or eLoran). An as- sessment is to be conducted of issues related to Arctic marine shipping. De- velopment of domestic transportation policies in the Arctic is to be coordinated by the Committee on the Maritime Trans- portation System. A study is to be con- ducted of blended fuels and the impact of their use in the marine industry.

Miscellaneous provisions

The terms of the various Coast Guard advisory committees that had recently ex- pired or were about to expire have been renewed.

The Coast Guard has been directed to report to Congress on the status of the various rulemakings mandated by the

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) and OPA 90 that have yet to be completed. A provision regarding crew wages on large passenger vessels in- cludes a cap on penalty wage awards and an authorization for deposits of wages of seamen into bank accounts with the writ- ten permission of the individual crew member.

This summary does not address all pro- visions of the Authorization Act and does not attempt to include all the implications of those that are discussed. It does, though, provide a starting point for ex- amination of this lengthy and important statute.

November 2010 www.marinelink.com 27

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, the second National Security Cutter, passes the Coast Guard Cutters Mor- genthau, Sherman and Boutwell, all 378-foot cutters, while preparing to moor at Coast Guard Island.