Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “American LNG First Act of 2023”.
American LNG First Act of 2023
A BILL
To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Exemption from coastwise laws for vessels transporting liquefied natural gas
General eligibility requirements— Section 12103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Exception for vessels transporting liquefied natural gas
“(1) In general—Notwithstanding subsection (a), a certificate of documentation may be issued under this chapter for any vessel transporting methane, refrigerated liquid, commonly known as liquefied natural gas.
“(2) Certain vessels excluded—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—
“(A) a vessel that is owned, in whole or in part, by—
“(i) a Russian national; or
“(ii) the Government of the Russian Federation;
“(B) a Russian-flagged vessel;
“(C) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Russian national;
“(D) a vessel that is owned in whole or in part, by—
“(i) a Chinese national; or
“(ii) the Government of the People’s Republic of China;
“(E) a Chinese-flagged vessel; or
“(F) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Chinese national.”
Coastwise endorsement— Section 12112(a)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
in clause (ii) by striking “or” at the end;
in clause (iii) by striking “and” at the end and inserting “or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(iv) transports methane, refrigerated liquid, commonly known as liquefied natural gas; and”