A bill to amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.

Bill 114 s 1717, also known as the "Old Vessel Exemption Act," aims to amend title 46 of the United States Code to provide an exemption for old vessels that only operate within inland waterways from the requirement to use fire-retardant materials. This exemption would be granted to owners of such vessels who commit to making annual structural alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are not constructed of fire-retardant materials.

The purpose of this bill is to provide relief to owners of older vessels that may not meet current fire safety standards, while still ensuring that these vessels are maintained and updated to improve safety. By requiring annual structural alterations to a portion of the vessel, the bill aims to strike a balance between safety and the preservation of historic vessels that may not be able to meet modern fire-retardant material requirements.

If passed, this bill would impact vessels operating solely within inland waterways, exempting them from the fire-retardant materials requirement as long as the owners commit to making regular structural alterations to improve safety. This exemption could provide financial relief to owners of older vessels while still promoting safety measures to protect passengers and crew members.