124 STAT. 2970 PUBLIC LAW 111–281—OCT. 15, 2010 the same manner as a complaint may be filed under subsection (b) of section 31105 of title 49. Such complaint shall be subject to the procedures, requirements, and rights described in that sec- tion, including with respect to the right to file an objection, the right of a person to file for a petition for review under subsection (c) of that section, and the requirement to bring a civil action under subsection (d) of that section.’’. (b) EXISTING ACTIONS.—This section shall not affect the applica- tion of section 2114(b) of title 46, United States Code, as in effect before the date of enactment of this Act, to an action filed under that section before that date. SEC. 612. OIL FUEL TANK PROTECTION. Section 3306 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(k)(1) Each vessel of the United States that is constructed under a contract entered into after the date of enactment of the Maritime Safety Act of 2010, or that is delivered after January 1, 2011, with an aggregate capacity of 600 cubic meters or more of oil fuel, shall comply with the requirements of Regulation 12A under Annex I to the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, entitled ‘Oil Fuel Tank Protection’. ‘‘(2) The Secretary may prescribe regulations to apply the requirements described in Regulation 12A to vessels described in paragraph (1) that are not otherwise subject to that convention. Any such regulation shall be considered to be an interpretive rule for the purposes of section 553 of title 5. ‘‘(3) In this subsection the term ‘oil fuel’ means any oil used as fuel in connection with the propulsion and auxiliary machinery of the vessel in which such oil is carried.’’. SEC. 613. OATHS. Section 7105 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘before a designated official’’. SEC. 614. DURATION OF LICENSES, CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY, AND MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS. (a) MERCHANT MARINER’S DOCUMENTS.—Section 7302(f) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(f) PERIODS OF VALIDITY AND RENEWAL OF MERCHANT MARI- NERS’ DOCUMENTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (g), a merchant mariner’s document issued under this chapter is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods. ‘‘(2) ADVANCE RENEWALS.—A renewed merchant mariner’s document may be issued under this chapter up to 8 months in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously issued merchant mariner’s document expires or until the completion of any active suspension or revocation of that pre- viously issued merchant mariner’s document, whichever is later.’’. (b) DURATION OF LICENSES.—Section 7106 of such title is amended to read as follows: Definition. Compliance. 46 USC 2114 note.
