United States Passenger Vessel Development Act

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] United States Passenger Vessel Development Act - Amends Federal shipping law to authorize endorsement of a certificate of documentation for an eligible passenger vessel with an interim coastwise passenger trade endorsement if it is: (1) owned by, or demise chartered for at least 18 months to, a U.S. citizen; (2) at least 250 gross tons, with at least 175 berths; and (3) not a ferry. Conditions issuance of such an endorsement on the vessel owner's or charterer's entering into one or more contracts for the construction in the United States of one or more vessels having a total berthing capacity at least 80 percent of the capacity of the vessel for which the endorsement is issued. Conditions renewal of such endorsements on specified progress in vessel construction. Requires an interim coastwise passenger trade endorsement to prohibit the operation of the vessel in any trade served by another documented passenger vessel of at least 250 gross tons and having at least 175 berths, unless the owner or operator of the vessel so operated is also the owner or operator of the other vessel having the endorsement. Amends the Shipping Act, 1916 to authorize a person to place under a foreign regis…