Open America's Ports Act

Summary

Repeals the Passenger Vessel Services Act restriction that required vessels carrying passengers between U.S. ports to meet U.S. coastwise citizenship and crewing rules even when they call at a foreign port en route. The bill amends multiple provisions of U.S. maritime law so passenger vessels operating an itinerary that includes two U.S. ports via a foreign port are no longer subject to those specific coastwise/Jones Act passenger ownership and crewing requirements. The legislation preserves the application of other U.S. laws to such vessels unless the bill explicitly creates an exemption, and it makes conforming edits across title 46 to remove the repealed requirements and related cross-references.

• Repeals the Passenger Vessel Services Act requirement that applied coastwise citizenship and crewing rules to passenger voyages calling at a foreign port between U.S. ports.
• Amends multiple sections of title 46 to remove references and requirements tied to the repealed passenger provision.
• Adds an explicit nonapplicability clause so affected passenger voyages are not covered by the prior passenger-specific coastwise rules.
• Exempts such passenger voyages from certain citizenship and Navy Reserve crewing requirements previously applied under the passenger rule.
• Affirms that other U.S. laws (safety, customs, immigration, environmental) still apply unless a specific exemption is provided.
• Enables foreign-flag or non-coastwise-qualified vessels to operate passenger trips between U.S. ports with a foreign call without meeting the old passenger PVSA rules.
• Does not create new spending programs or appropriate funds; it is a statutory amendment to maritime law.
• Makes conforming edits and removes cross-references elsewhere in title 46 that depended on the repealed provision.