Report and recommendations on integration of autonomous and remotely operated vessels

(a) In general Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the safe integration of autonomous and remotely operated vessels into the marine transportation system of the United States. (b) Consultation In preparing the report under subsection (a), the Commandant shall consult with— (1) the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee established under section 15103 of title 46, United States Code; (2) the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee established under section 15104 of title 46, United States Code; and (3) vessel operators, builders, classification societies, licensed maritime labor organizations, unlicensed maritime labor organizations, and longshore labor organizations. (c) Contents The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) an assessment of the provisions of title 46, United States Code, and the laws codified in title 33, United States Code, and the regulations issued thereunder, that condition the operation, manning, or navigation of a vessel on the performance of a function by an individual onboard and that may impact the safe operation of autonomous or remotely operated vessels, including— (A) the manning and complement requirements under sections 8101 and 8301 of title 46, United States Code; (B) the look-out requirement under the International Navigational Rules Act of 1977 (33 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and the Inland Navigational Rules under title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act; (C) the vessel design, construction, inspection, operation, and management requirements under chapters 32 and 33 of title 46, United States Code; and (D) the vessel and facility security requirements under chapter 701 of title 46, United States Code; (2) for each provision identified under paragraph (1), a determination of whether the provision may be addressed by the Secretary under existing authority, including through equivalency or alternative compliance determinations, or requires additional statutory authority; (3) recommendations for any statutory or regulatory amendments the Commandant determines necessary or advisable to permit the safe operation of autonomous or remotely operated vessels on a basis providing a level of safety and security equivalent to or greater than that provided by a conventionally crewed vessel, including proposed legislative changes for any recommended statutory amendment; (4) an analysis of the evolving role of merchant mariners in operating and supporting such vessels, both onboard and from remote locations, including effects on mariner training, credentialing, and the maritime workforce; and (5) a description of how the recommendations relate to the safety and equivalency framework of the International Maritime Organization International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, to support interoperability for vessels of the United States operating on international voyages. (d) Interim briefing Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall brief the Committees described in subsection (a) on the progress of the report. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of any vessel or modifies any requirement of title 46, United States Code, or the laws codified in title 33, United States Code.