Noncontiguous Disaster Shipping Act

This legislation amends federal law to permit the waiver of navigation and vessel-inspection laws for vessels engaged in disaster relief efforts in noncontiguous U.S. areas. Such waivers are triggered by a Presidential declaration of a major disaster or emergency in places like Puerto Rico, Hawaii, or Alaska, and specifically apply to cargo transportation for disaster relief purposes. Each waiver is initially limited to 10 days , with the possibility of a single 10-day extension granted by the responsible agency head in consultation with the affected area's Governor. The aggregate duration of all waivers and extensions for a single disaster cannot exceed 45 days . Furthermore, the agency issuing the waiver must notify relevant Congressional committees within 48 hours of its issuance or any extension.