The Council (a) maintains liaison with industry. States, and other 

 groups or individuals, including: participation and staff work on inter- 

 national marine safety bodies; (b) holds public hearings according 

 to the Administrative Procedures Act; and (c) prepares and edits 

 "Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council." 



The International Maritime Safety Coordinating Staff helps pre- 

 pare U.S. positions and also furnishes delegates to international con- 

 ferences concerned with safety of life at sea and other international 

 maritime problems. Under authority of 46 USC 150, it details Coast 

 Guard officers as attaches to diplomatic missions. 



Funding 



Coast Guard receives direct appropriations from general tax reve- 

 nues, except in certain minor instances. Until 1886, when they were 

 discontinued, fees for inspecting American vessels and licensing offi- 

 cers were the rule. In 1954 a schedule of proposed fees for "user 

 charges" in marine safety was published. legislation is required to 

 permit certain of these charges, but Congress has not taken favorable 

 action. Industry representatives have in the past opposed such 

 charges to the shipping industry and its personnel. Imposition of 

 such fees would result in duplicate charges to vessel owners in those 

 areas where Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping make 

 similar inspections. 



Recommendations 



Information developed by the study group shows clearly that the 

 Department, through legislative proposal and comment on other de- 

 partments' proposals, should support the Coast Guard as the single 

 Federal agency with responsibility and authority for merchant marine 

 safety. In cooperation with the Congress, other Federal departments 

 and agencies, and the maritime industiy, the Department should also 

 develop a legislative plan to revise and modernize shipping laws. 



The Coast Guard should study additional areas in which it could 

 accept American Bureau of Shipping plan approvals and inspection 

 certifications without relinquishing statutory responsibility. 



The Treasury Department should support legislation to extend mer- 

 chant marine safety regulation to fishing vessels. It should also decide 

 whether to assess user fees for inspections and other merchant marine 

 safety services. 



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