46 U.S.C. § 3104: Survival craft

such vessel is built or undergoes a major conversion after January 1, 2016 ; and operates in cold waters as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary may revise part 117 or part 180 of title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect before January 1, 2016 , if such revision provides a higher standard of safety than is provided by the regulations in effect on or before the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016. ensures no part of an individual is immersed in water; and provides an equal or higher standard of safety than is provided by such requirements as in effect before such date of the enactment. In this section, the term “built” has the meaning that term has under section 4503(d). the number of casualties for individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, reported to the Coast Guard over the preceding 30-year period, by vessel type and area of operation; the risks to individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly as a result of immersion in water, by passenger vessel type and area of operation; passenger vessel safety, including stability and safe navigation; improving the survivability of individuals, including individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; and the costs, the incremental cost difference to vessel operators, and the cost effectiveness of requiring the carriage of such survival craft to address the risks to individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; the efficacy of alternative safety systems, devices, or measures in improving survivability of individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly; and the number of small businesses and nonprofit vessel operators that would be affected by requiring the carriage of such survival craft on passenger vessels to address the risks to individuals with disabilities, children, and the elderly. In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include an examination of passenger vessel casualties that have occurred in the waters of other nations. The Secretary shall update the review required under paragraph (1) every 5 years. Based on the review conducted under paragraph (1), including updates thereto, the Secretary shall revise regulations concerning the carriage of survival craft under section 3104(c) of title 46 , United States Code.”