§1356 Documentary, Registry and Manning Requirements

Summary

Requires the Secretary of the department that runs the Coast Guard to write rules within six months after September 18, 1978. The rules must say that, starting one year after the rules take effect, any vessel, rig, platform, or similar thing used under this law and built or rebuilt after that one-year date must be documented under U.S. law when U.S. law requires it. They must meet minimum standards for design, construction, change, and repair. They must also be crewed by U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, unless an exception applies. The design and repair rules do not apply to items built before September 18, 1978 until they are rebuilt. The crew rules do not apply if existing contracts or registry rules from September 18, 1978 say otherwise, if there are not enough qualified U.S. citizens or permanent residents available, if the President finds it harms the national interest for a particular vessel, or if more than 50% is owned or controlled by foreigners unless the President finds that the foreign government has its own national manning rule for offshore oil and gas.