Omnibus Maritime Improvements Act of 2001

Omnibus Maritime Improvements Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law concerning Coast Guard housing authorities to double the amount of the total value in budget authority permitted for all contracts and investments undertaken using such authorities.

Authorizes the Coast Guard to implement a demonstration project for the acquisition or construction of military family housing and military unaccompanied housing at the Coast Guard installation in Kodiak, Alaska.

Extends Coast Guard housing authorities from October 1, 2001, to October 1, 2006.

(Sec. 3) Requires the use of U.S. vessels, as specified, for certain cable laying, vessel escort, and towing assistance.

(Sec. 5) Requires the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of the minimum standards necessary for the safe operation of all Coast Guard search and rescue center facilities.

(Sec. 6) Permits the Secretary of Transportation to allow a person providing commercial VHF communications services to place commercial VHF communications equipment on Coast Guard owned or controlled property (including towers) subject to any terms agreed to by the parties.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation for lower Columbia River marine, fire, oil, and toxic spill response communications, training, equipment, and program administration activities conducted by the Maritime Fire and Safety Association.

(Sec. 9) Prohibits a vessel which has been forfeited to the U.S. Government for a breach of U.S. laws from obtaining a certificate of documentation with a fisheries endorsement.

(Sec. 10) Requires the Commandant of the Coast Guard to ensure that all Coast Guard personnel are equipped with adequate safety equipment, including hypothermia protective clothing where appropriate, while performing search and rescue missions.

(Sec. 11) Revises provisions concerning the promotion of Coast Guard Reserve Officers.

(Sec. 12) Authorizes the Coast Guard to continue commanders and lieutenant commanders scheduled to retire due to failure of selection for promotion.

(Sec. 13) Authorizes providing financial assistance to an eligible enlisted member of the Coast Guard Reserve, not on active duty, for expenses of the member while the member is pursuing on a full-time basis at an approved institution of higher education a program of education that leads to: (1) a baccalaureate degree in not more than five academic years; or (2) a post-baccalaureate degree.

(Sec. 14) Permits the Coast Guard to offer to captains who would otherwise be forced to retire after 30 years of duty the opportunity to continue on active duty.

(Sec. 15) Allows the Coast Guard to pay death gratuities to personal representatives of Coast Guard Auxiliarists who die in the line of duty, to the same extent that death gratuities are paid on behalf of Federal employees.

(Sec. 16) Revises the Coast Guard's severance pay provisions to align Coast Guard severance pay and revocation of commission authority with Department of Defense authority.

(Sec. 17) Permits the Commandant of the Coast Guard to lease to non-Federal entities, including private individuals, lighthouse property under the administrative control of the Coast Guard for terms not to exceed 30 years.

(Sec. 18) Amends the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act to permit the Coast Guard's drug interdiction jurisdiction to extend to 24 nautical miles from U.S. shores (the outer limit of the U.S. contiguous zone). Specifies the circumstances under which the Government can seize a vessel which participates in illicit drug smuggling.

(Sec. 19) Amends the definition of small passenger vessel to include wing-in-ground craft that carry at least one passenger for hire. Defines such craft.

(Sec. 20) Removes the requirement for filing an original commercial instrument (for example, a ship mortgage) within ten days of the electronic filing of the instrument.

(Sec. 21) Eliminates the requirement for a thumbprint to be placed on a merchant mariner's document.

(Sec. 22) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to delegate, subject to the supervision and control of the Secretary and under terms set out by regulation, to private entities determined and certified by the Secretary to be qualified, the authority to issue a temporary certificate of documentation for a recreational vessel.

(Sec. 23) Authorizes the Coast Guard to conduct marine casualty investigations involving foreign vessels in areas outside U.S. territorial waters consistent with the practices and procedures of international law.

(Sec. 24) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to convey to BaySail, Inc. (a nonprofit corporation), without monetary consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to property adjacent to Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, located in Hampton Township, Michigan.