The Secretary shall by regulation require immersion suits on vessels designated by the Secretary that operate in the Atlantic Ocean north of 32 degrees North latitude or south of 32 degrees South latitude and in all other waters north of 35 degrees North latitude or south of 35 degrees South latitude. The Secretary may not exclude a vessel from designation under this section only because that vessel carries other lifesaving equipment.
(b)
The Secretary shall establish standards for an immersion suit required by this section, including standards to guarantee adequate thermal protection, buoyance, and flotation stability.
(c)(1)
The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
(2)
The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section may be fined not more than $25,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
Public Law 98–55798 Stat. 2871section 3102 of this titlesection 701 of the Act of November 8, 1984Public Law 98–62398 Stat. 3413section 3102 of this title“Section 22 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1984 (; ), and the amendments made by such section [enacting first identical and provisions set out as a note under this section and amending the analysis of chapter 31 of this title], are repealed as of . Regulations prescribed and actions taken under, and references to, such section and the amendments made by such section are deemed to be regulations prescribed and actions taken under, and references to, (; ), and the amendments made by such section 701 [enacting second identical and provisions set out as a note under this section and amending the analysis of chapter 31 of this title].”
Section 3102 of title 46 , United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), does not limit the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to prescribe regulations requiring exposure suits on vessels not required by section 3102 to have exposure suits.
“(c)
section 3102 of title 46 The regulations prescribed under , United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section), shall be effective not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this title [].”
section 542 of Title 6[For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .]
Pub. L. 98–557section 2 of Pub. L. 99–36Similar provisions were contained in section 22(b), (c) of , which was repealed by , set out above as a Repeal of Duplicate Section note.