§ 12117 — Oil Spill Response Vessels

(a) A coastwise endorsement may be issued for a vessel that— (1) satisfies the requirements for a coastwise endorsement, except for the ownership requirement otherwise applicable without regard to this section; (2) is owned by a not-for-profit oil spill response cooperative or by members of such a cooperative that dedicate the vessel to use by the cooperative; (3) is at least 50 percent owned by individuals or entities described in section 12103(b) of this title; and (4) is to be used only for— (i) deploying equipment, supplies, and personnel to recover, contain, or transport oil discharged into the navigable waters of the United States or the exclusive economic zone; or (ii) training exercises to prepare to respond to such a discharge. (b) A vessel satisfying subsection (a) is deemed to be owned only by citizens of the United States under sections 12103, 12132, and 50501 of this title.