Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization Title II: Coast Guard Management Title III: Marine Safety Title IV: Miscellaneous Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1997 - Title I: Authorization - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, testing, and evaluation; (4) retired pay, payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection and Survivor Benefit Plans, and payments for medical care of retired personnel and their dependents; (5) alteration or removal of bridges constituting obstructions to navigation and for personnel and administrative costs associated with the Bridge Alteration Program; and (6) environmental compliance and restoration at Coast Guard facilities. (Sec. 102) Authorizes Coast Guard end-of-year strength and military training student loads. Title II: Coast Guard Management - Amends Federal law relating to the Coast Guard to remove the dollar limit on severance pay for regular warrant officers. (Sec. 202) Authorizes honorary recognition of individuals and organizations, including State and local governments and commercial and nonprofit organizations, that significantly contribute to Coast Guard programs, missions, or operations by awarding plaques, medals, and similar items. Title III: Marine Safety - Amends the Ports and Waterways Safety Act and Federal law relating to vessels and seamen to define "navigable waters of the United States" to include all waters of the U.S. territorial sea as described in a specified presidential proclamation. Makes changes relating to U.S. navigable waters in provisions relating to the operation of vessels, uninspected vessel safety equipment, recreational vessels, uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels, and vessel pilots. (Sec. 302) Amends Federal law relating to the operation of vessels to impose civil monetary penalties for interfering with the safe operation of a vessel. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Removes a requirement that, in order to be eligible for documentation, a vessel must not be titled in a State. Declares that a documented vessel shall not be titled or required to display numbers under certain provisions and requires surrender of any State title certificate issued for a documented vessel, but only if the mortgagee consents to the surrender. Allows any indebtedness that is subject to a mortgage granting a security interest perfected under State law covering a vessel titled in a State to have any rate of interest agreed to by the parties. Modifies the steps a mortgagee may take on default of a preferred mortgage. Gives district courts original jurisdiction (exclusive of State courts) over certain preferred mortgage default actions regarding a vessel titled in a State. (Sec. 402) Deems land and improvements comprising the Coast Guard Reserve training facility in Jacksonville, Florida, to be surplus property and mandates their disposal at fair market value, giving the city of Jacksonville the right of first refusal. (Sec. 403) Authorizes issuance of documentation for 12 specified vessels. Deems a certain corporation to be a citizen of the United States for purposes of owning corporations whose vessels are eligible for documentation, provided specified requirements are met. Amends the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996 to deem a specified vessel to have been constructed in the United States as of the date of its original delivery. (Sec. 404) Authorizes the conveyance, without consideration, of the U.S. Coast Guard Recreation Facility Nahant, Massachusetts, to the town of Nahant, Massachusetts. (Sec. 405) Deems the lift bridge over the back channel of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to unreasonably obstruct navigation for purposes of the Truman-Hobbs Act (Hobbs Bridge Act) (relating to the alteration of bridges over U.S. navigable waters). (Sec. 406) Amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to modify provisions relating to limits on vessel liability. (Sec. 407) Authorizes the conveyance to Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, without consideration, of the Long Branch Rear Range Light, Jacksonville, Florida. (Sec. 408) Prohibits a vessel from transporting cargoes sponsored by the Government for one year after the vessel has been (or after the vessel's owner has had more than one vessel) detained for violation of an international safety convention. (Sec. 409) Recognizes the community of Grand Haven, Michigan, as "Coast Guard City, USA." (Sec. 410) Authorizes the conveyance, without consideration, of the Coast Guard Communication Station Boston Marshfield Receiver Site, Massachusetts, to the Town of Marshfield, Massachusetts.