A bill to amend the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 in order to establish a national marine firefighting program.

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Sets forth the findings of Congress that marine fires are a major hazard to port populations and property and have resulted in substantial economic harm. States that the purposes of this Act are to: (1) provide for the adequate training of United States merchant seamen in marine fire prevention and onboard firefighting; (2) provide for the establishment of marine firefighting units which utilize the manpower and resources of local fire departments and are specially trained in shipboard firefighting techniques for purposes of training local fire departments and ship crews and providing on-the-scene emergency assistance for fighting marine fires; and (3) utilize the United States Coast Guard to coordinate and control marine firefighting activity by firefighting units established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, to establish within the United States such number of marine firefighting regions as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Provides for the selection and establishment of regional and satellite firefighting units from each region. States that each unit shall, upon order by the Secretary of the de…