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Ship, Seafarer, and Container Security Act

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 25, 2002

Ship, Seafarer, and Container Security Act - Requires certain vessels to be equipped with an automatic identification system when operating in U.S. navigable waters. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a rulemaking to implement such requirement.Urges the Secretary to negotiate an international agreement (or amendments to such an agreement) that: (1) provides for a uniform, comprehensive, international system of identification for seafarers that will enable the United States and other countries to establish the identity of any seafarer aboard a vessel within the jurisdiction, including the territorial waters, of the United States or such other country; (2) provides greater transparency with respect to the registration and ownership of vessels entering or operating in U.S. territorial waters; and (3) establishes marine container integrity and anti-tampering standards for marine containers. Requires the Secretary to submit draft legislation to specified congressional committees if negotiations do not result in an agreement or the amendment process fails within a specified period after enactment of this Act.Directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to establish: (1) a risk-based system for use in evaluating the potential threat to the national security of the United States of vessels entering U.S. territorial waters; and (2) a system of security zones for U.S. ports, territorial waters, and waterways.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA] · D–LA

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3442)

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3441-3442)

  4. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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