46 U.S.C. § 7307 — Able seamen—unlimited

Page 135 TITLE 46—SHIPPING § 7307 1 See Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service note below. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted ‘‘individual’’ for ‘‘seaman’’ wherever appearing. 2002—Pub. L. 107–295 struck out ‘‘the thumbprint,’’ after ‘‘photograph,’’. § 7304. Citizenship notation on merchant mari- ners’ documents An individual applying for a merchant mari- ner’s document shall provide satisfactory proof that the individual is a citizen of the United States before that notation is made on the docu- ment. (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 542.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7304 .............................................. 46:643(b) Section 7304 specifies, that before a merchant mari- ner’s document is noted to specify that the individual is a U.S. citizen, the individual must provide satisfac- tory proof that he is a citizen. This does not impose a requirement of United States citizenship as a condition for issuance of a document. § 7305. Oaths for holders of merchant mariners’ documents An applicant for a merchant mariner’s docu- ment shall take, before issuance of the docu- ment, an oath that the applicant will perform faithfully and honestly all the duties required by law, and will carry out the lawful orders of superior officers. (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 542.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7305 .............................................. .............................................. The requirement for an oath, drawn from a clause which had appeared in 46 U.S.C. 672(g), and adminis- tered by the Coast Guard to all applicants, was re- pealed in a 1980 amendment by section 4 of Public Law 96–378 (94 Stat. 1516). Since no specific comment was made regarding the elimination in 1980 and the agency has continued to administer an oath to all applicants, this provision is being reinstated. The Committee be- lieves the oath will contribute to the discipline and order necessary in the merchant marine. § 7306. General requirements and classifications for able seamen (a) To qualify for an endorsement as able sea- man authorized by this section, an applicant must provide satisfactory proof that the appli- cant— (1) is at least 18 years of age; (2) has the service required by the applicable section of this part; (3) is qualified professionally as dem- onstrated by an applicable examination or educational requirements; and (4) is qualified as to sight, hearing, and phys- ical condition to perform the seaman’s duties. (b) The classifications authorized for endorse- ment as able seaman are the following: (1) able seaman—unlimited. (2) able seaman—limited. (3) able seaman—special. (4) able seaman—offshore supply vessels. (5) able seaman—sail. (6) able seaman—fishing industry. (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 542; Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 402(9)(C), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 448.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7306 .............................................. 46:672(b) Section 7306(a) establishes the minimum require- ments an individual must meet before being issued a merchant mariner’s document endorsed for able sea- men. Subsection (b) establishes the classifications of able seamen—unlimited, able seamen—limited, able sea- men—special, able seamen—offshore supply vessels, and able seamen—sail. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1984—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 98–364 added par. (6). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Provisions of this section (related to able seaman— sail) effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title. ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN SERVICES TOWARD ENDORSEMENT AS ABLE SEAMAN Pub. L. 101–595, title VI, § 602(e)(3), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2992, provided that: ‘‘For the purposes of chapter 73 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation shall accept the service used by an indi- vidual to qualify for an endorsement as able seaman— fishing industry as qualifying service toward an en- dorsement as an able seaman— ‘‘(A) under sections 7307 and 7309 of that title; or ‘‘(B) if the service is on board a vessel of at least 100 gross tons, under section 7308 of that title.’’ § 7307. Able seamen—unlimited The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—unlimited, qualified for unlimited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 3 years’ 1 service on deck on board vessels oper- ating at sea or on the Great Lakes. (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7307 .............................................. 46:672(b)(1) Section 7307 requires individuals to have at least 3 years service on deck on vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes before their merchant mariner’s docu- ments can be endorsed as able seamen—unlimited. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF LENGTHS OF CERTAIN PERIODS OF SERVICE Pub. L. 118–31, div. C, title XXXV, § 3534(j), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 833, provided that: ‘‘For the 3-year period Page 136 TITLE 46—SHIPPING § 7308 1 See Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service note below. 1 See Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service note below. beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023]— ‘‘(1) section 7307 of title 46, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting ‘18 months’ for ‘3 years’; ‘‘(2) section 7308 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘12 months’ for ‘18 months’; and ‘‘(3) section 7309 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘6 months’ for ‘12 months’.’’ ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN SERVICES TOWARD ENDORSEMENT AS ABLE SEAMAN Service used to qualify for endorsement as able sea- man—fishing industry to be accepted as qualifying service toward an endorsement under this section, see section 602(e)(3) of Pub. L. 101–595, set out as a note under section 7306 of this title. § 7308. Able seamen—limited The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—limited, qualified for limited serv- ice on a vessel on any waters, is at least 18 months’ 1 service on deck on board vessels of at least 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage meas- ured under section 14302 of this title as pre- scribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 721, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7308 .............................................. 46:672(b)(2) Section 7308 establishes the minimum service re- quirements for an individual to qualify for an endorse- ment as able seamen—limited. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1996—Pub. L. 104–324 inserted ‘‘as measured under sec- tion 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage meas- ured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title’’ after ‘‘100 gross tons’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF LENGTHS OF CERTAIN PERIODS OF SERVICE Section to be applied by substituting ‘‘12 months’’ for ‘‘18 months’’ for the 3-year period beginning on Dec. 22, 2023, see section 3534(j) of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 7307 of this title. ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN SERVICES TOWARD ENDORSEMENT AS ABLE SEAMAN Service used to qualify for endorsement as able sea- man—fishing industry to be accepted as qualifying service toward an endorsement under this section, see section 602(e)(3) of Pub. L. 101–595, set out as a note under section 7306 of this title. § 7309. Able seamen—special The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—special, qualified for special serv- ice on a vessel on any waters, is at least 12 months’ 1 service on deck on board vessels oper- ating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7309 .............................................. 46:672(b)(3) Section 7309 establishes the minimum service re- quirements for an individual to qualify as able sea- men—special. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TEMPORARY REDUCTION OF LENGTHS OF CERTAIN PERIODS OF SERVICE Section to be applied by substituting ‘‘6 months’’ for ‘‘12 months’’ for the 3-year period beginning on Dec. 22, 2023, see section 3534(j) of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 7307 of this title. ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN SERVICES TOWARD ENDORSEMENT AS ABLE SEAMAN Service used to qualify for endorsement as able sea- man—fishing industry to be accepted as qualifying service toward an endorsement under this section, see section 602(e)(3) of Pub. L. 101–595, set out as a note under section 7306 of this title. § 7310. Able seamen—offshore supply vessels For service on a vessel of less than 500 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title en- gaged in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy re- sources, an individual may be rated as able sea- man—offshore supply vessels if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 722, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised section Source section (U.S. Code) 7310 .............................................. 46:672(b)(3) Section 7310 establishes the minimum service re- quirements for an individual to serve as able seamen— offshore supply vessels on vessels of less than 500 gross tons engaged in the exploration, exploitation, or pro- duction of offshore mineral or energy resources. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1996—Pub. L. 104–324 inserted ‘‘as measured under sec- tion 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage meas- ured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title’’ after ‘‘500 gross tons’’.