U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 

Complainant 

vs. 

KENNETH ROUSSELL 

Respondent. 

Docket Number: CO S&R 03-0365 

CO Case No.: 1792700 

DECISION AND ORDER 

Issued: Aprill, 2004 

Issued by: Peter A. Fitzpatrick, Administrative Law Judge 

Appearances: 

Lieutenant Boris Towns and 

Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert Butts 

~------------------------------------~~Gast~uardi----------------------------~-------­

Marine Safety Office 

800 David Drive 

Morgan City, Louisiana 70380-1304 

For the Coast Guard 

Jessica Duet, Esq. 

Kopfler & Hermann, L.C. 

7910 Main Street, Suite 400 

P.O. Box 3760 

Houma, Louisiana 70361-3760 

For the Respondent 

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PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 

On June 11, 2003, the Coast Guard filed a Complaint alleging Respondent 

committed an act of Misconduct by refusing to take a random drug test while assigned as 

the Master of theTA YLOR R. MARTIN. The jurisdictional allegations of the Complaint 

listed Respondent's address and alleged Respondent held a Coast Guard issued license. 

Respondent filed an Answer admitting the Jurisdictional Allegations and denying the 

Factual Allegations. 

Since Misconduct is an "acting under the authority" offense1 and the Complaint 

did not allege Respondent was "acting under the authority" of his license, a Show Cause 

Order was issued directing the Coast Guard to either amend the Complaint or show cause 

why the Complaint should not be dismissed. On December 11, 2003, the Coast Guard 

filed a Motion to Amend the Complaint and alleged Respondent was acting under the 

authority of his license while assigned to the M/V TAYLOR R. MARTIN. Respondent 

filed an Amended Answer stating that aside from this proceeding Respondent has never 

refused or failed a drug screen; Respondent was scheduled to work on May 6, 2003; 

Respondent consumed alcoholic beverages on May 4, 2003 and the morning of May 5, 

2003; Respondent's employer contacted him on May 5, 2003 at 7:00a.m. and instructed 

Respondent to report to work at 11:00 a.m. on May 5, 2003 instead of May 6, 2003. 

Respondent's Amended Answer also argued that the sanction sought by the Coast Guard 

was too harsh. At the hearing, the Amended Complaint and Amended Answer were both 

accepted. (Tr. at 8). 

The hearing was held on January 29, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. in Morgan City, 

Louisiana. The Coast Guard presented three (3) witnesses and thirteen (13) exhibits were 

2 
admitted into evidence; Respondent was the only witness to testify on his behalf and 

three (3) exhibits were offered and admitted into evidence. One (1) exhibit was admitted 

into evidence at the Administrative Law Judge's initiative. At the conclusion of the 

hearing, the Administrative Law Judge, in accordance with 46 CPR 5.521(b), directed the 

Coast Guard to take possession ofRespondent's license. (Tr. at 162). 

FINDINGS OF FACT 

1. Respondent holds a Coast Guard issued license authorizing him to serve as Master 

of steam or motor vessels of not more than 1 00 gross tons on or near coastal waters and 

·engage in commercial assistance towing. (IO Ex. 1). Respondent's license was issued on 

September 26,2001 and expires on September 26, 2006. (IO Ex. 1). 

2. From September 12,2002 to May 5, 2003, AMT Marine employed Respondent as 

a licensed Captain. (Tr. at 131; 10 Ex. 13). 

3. On April21, 2003, Respondent completed his watch on the TAYLOR R. 

MARTIN and thought he was not scheduled to report back to work until May 6, 2003. 

(Tr. at 114, 133, 143-147; 10 Ex. 13). 

4. The TAYLOR R. MARTIN is an 86 gross ton vessel owned and operated by 

AMT Marine. (Judge Ex. 1). The Certificate of Inspection for theTA YLOR R. 

MARTIN requires the vessel to be manned by one Master, one Mate, and two deckhands. 

(Judge Ex. 1). However the crew may be reduced to one Master and two deckhands if the 

vessel is not underway for more than twelve hours in a twenty four hour period. (Judge 

Ex. I.). 

5. The work schedule for the TAYLOR R. MARTIN's crew, including Respondent, 

was twenty-eight days on and fourteen days off. (Tr. at 61). Although specific days are 

1 See 46 U.S.C. 7703(1)(B). 

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scheduled for crew changes, the changes do not always occur on schedule. (Tr. at 61). 

AMT Marine tries to keep to the announced schedule, but the ship's schedule may cause 

the company to move the crew change a day or two before or after it was originally 

scheduled. (Tr. at 61-62, 114-117, 132-133). If an employee is unable to come in to 

work before the original date scheduled for his/her duty, the company will hire someone 

else. (Tr. at 121). Respondent was aware of these circumstances. (Tr. at 143). 

6. At 7 a.m. on May 5, 2003, Respondent received a call from Mr. Pitre with AMT 

Marine asking him to come to work at 11:00 a.m. that same day. (Tr. at 134-135). 

Respondent reported as directed although he had been up until2:30 a.m. or 3:00a.m. 

drinking "quite a few beers." (Tr. at 133-135). 

7. AMT Marine had scheduled a random drug test for all their crewmembers on 

board theTA YLOR R. MARTIN on May 5, 2003, which included two Captains and four 

deckhands. (Tr. at 48-50, 105-107). Respondent reported to the vessel to serve as 

Captain. (Tr. at 50, 61). 

8. When Respondent boarded the TAYLOR R. MARTIN, he was informed ofthe 

random drug test. (Tr. at 13 6-13 7). Respondent admitted refusing to take the drug test, 

because he was worried that he still had alcohol in his system. (Tr. at 137, 147). 

Respondent did not appear intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. 

(Tr. at 67). 

9. Respondent was fired after refusing the test. (Tr. at 69, 138-139; IO Ex. 13). 

10. Prior to May 5, 2003, Respondent had never refused a drug test. (Tr. at 132). 

Since May 5, 2003, Respondent has been subject to random drug tests as part of his 

current employment and has not refused any of those drug tests. (Tr. at 139-140). 

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11. AMT Marine did not have any previous problems with Respondent. (Tr. at 75). 

12. Respondent is married and has two children. (Tr. at 127-128). Respondent's wife 

is a "stay at home" homemaker, and both Respondent's wife and children depend on him 

for food, clothing, and life necessities. (Tr. at 127-128). The highest grade of formal 

education Respondent completed is seventh grade. (Tr. at 141). Without a license, 

Respondent expects to earn $75-$85 less per day than he would earn working as a 

Master. (Tr. at 140-141). 

ULTIMATE FINDINGS OF FACT/CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 

The Coast Guard proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent was 

acting under the authority of his license when he committed an act of Misconduct by 

refusing to take a random drug test administered by his employer. 

DISCUSSION 

A. Burden of Proof 

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S. C. 551-59, governs Coast Guard 

suspension and revocation hearings. 46 U.S.C. 7702(a). The APA only authorizes 

sanctions to be imposed if upon consideration of the record as a whole the charges are 

supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. 5 U.S.C. 556(d). "The term 

substantial evidence is synonymous with the preponderance of the evidence as defined by 

the Supreme Court." Appeal Decision 2477 (TOMBARI) (1988). The burden of proving 

a claim by a preponderance of the evidence "simply requires the trier of fact 'to believe 

that the existence of a fact is more probable than its nonexistence before [he] may find in 

favor of the party who has the burden to persuade the Oudge] of the fact's existence.'" 

Concrete Pipe and Products of California, Inc. v. Construction Laborers Pension Trust for 

5 
Southern California, 508 U.S. 602,622 (1993) (citing Inre Winship, 397 U.S. 358,371-

72 (1970) (Harlan, J., concurring) (brackets in original)). Further, under Coast Guard 

procedural regulations, the Coast Guard bears the burden of proving the charges by a 

preponderance ofthe evidence. 33 CPR 20.701, 20.702(a). Therefore, the Coast Guard 

must prove with reliable and probative evidence that Respondent more likely than not 

committed the violations charged. 

B. Misconduct 

Title 46 U.S.C. 7703(1)(B) provides that a license, certificate of registry, or 

merchant mariner's document (MMD) may be suspended or revoked if the holder when 

acting under the authority of that license, certificate, or document commits an act of 

incompetence, misconduct, or negligence. Misconduct is partly defined as human 

behavior that violates some formal, duly established rule, and such rules are found in 

statutes, regulations, the common law, the general maritime law, a ship's order or 

regulation, shipping articles, and similar sources. 46 CPR 5.27. 

1. Acting under the authority 

Since Respondent did not admit he was acting under the authority of his license as 

the Amended Complaint alleged, it must first be determined if the Coast Guard proved 

jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence. A person employed in the service of a 

vessel is considered to be acting under the authority of his/her license, certificate, or 

MMD when the holding of that license, certificate, or MMD is required by law, 

regulation, or by the employer as a condition of employment. 46 CPR 5.57(a). If law, 

regulation, or condition of his employment did not require the Respondent to have a 

6 
' 

license, then the Coast Guard does not have jurisdiction under 46 CPR 5.57(a). See 

Appeal Decision 2620 (COX) (2001). Therefore, the Coast Guard must prove that (1) 

Respondent was employed in the service of a vessel when he committed an act of 

Misconduct and (2) Respondent's license was required by law, regulation, or as a 

condition ofhis employment. 

As stated above, the first prong of "acting under the authority" requires the Coast 

Guard to prove Respondent was employed in the service of a vessel. Employed in the 

service of a vessel does not require Respondent to have boarded the vessel. See Appeal 

Decision 2615 (DALE) (2000) (Respondent was acting under the authority of his MMD 

when his employer had assigned him to a vessel, but Respondent had not boarded.). 

Since Respondent was not only assigned to the TAYLOR R. MARTIN but had also 

boarded the vessel before learning of the random drug test, Respondent was employed in 

the service ofthe vessel. (Tr. at 49-50, 61, 136-137). 

The next question becomes whether law, regulation, or condition of employment 

required Respondent's license. In this case, the evidence demonstrates that Respondent's 

license was required by 46 CPR 15.501(a) and 46 CPR 15.515(a), so determining 

whether Respondent's license was required as a condition of employment is not 

necessary. To find that a law or regulation required Responden,t to hold a license, the 

vessel's certificate of inspection or a description of the vessel must be examined. Appeal 

Decision 2283 (FUEHR) (1982). For vessels inspected under 46 U.S.C. 3301 2

, the 

certificate of inspection specifies the minimum complement of officers and crew 

2 Title 46 U.S.C. 3301 provides that the following categories of vessels are subject to inspection: freight 

vessels, nautical school vessels, offshore supply vessels, passenger vessels, sailing school vessels, seagoing 

barges, seagoing motor vessels, small passenger vessels, steam vessels, tank vessels, fish processing 

vessels, fish tender vessels, and Great Lake barges. 

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necessary for the safe operation of the vessel, and no vessel may be operated unless it has 

in its service and on board the complement required by the certificate of inspection. 46 

CFR 15.50l(a); 46 CFR 15.515(a). 

Since the M/V TAYLOR R. MARTIN is an inspected vessel and the Certificate 

of Inspection requires a licensed Master, Respondent's license was required by 46 CFR 

15.501(a) and 46 CFR 15.515(a) in order for him to serve aboard the TAYLOR R. 

MARTIN as a Master. (Tr. at 147-148; Judge Ex. I; IO Ex. 1). Since the preponderance 

of·the evidence shows Respondent was employed in the service of a vessel and his 

license was required by a regulation, the Coast Guard proved Respondent was acting 

under the authority of this license when he refused the random drug test. 

2. Formal, Duly established rule 

To prove Respondent committed Misconduct, the Coast Guard must prove 

Respondent's behavior violated some formal, duly established rule. In this case, the 

formal, duly established rule is a regulation prohibiting safety sensitive employees from 

refusing to take a drug test. A person refuses to take a drug test when he/she fails to 

provide a urine specimen for any drug test required under 49 CFR Part 40 or DOT agency 

regulations. 49 CFR 40.191 (a)(3 ). Under Coast Guard regulations, marine employers are 

required to administer random drug tests. 46 CFR 16.230. Since Respondent admitted 

refusing to take a random drug given by his employer, the owner and operator of the 

TAYLOR R. MARTIN, Respondent violated 49 CFR 40.191(a)(3) and therefore 

committed an act of Misconduct. (Tr. at 48-50, 105-107, 137, 147, Judge Ex. I). 

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SANCTION 

Title 49 CPR 40.191 (c) provides that if an employee refuses to take a drug test the 

employee incurs the consequences specified under DOT regulations. The Table of 

Average Orders in the Coast Guard's regulations suggests a suspension for one to three 

months for Misconduct based on the failure to comply with U.S. law or regulation. 46 

CPR 5.569(d). However, the Table of Average Orders is only intended to provide 

information and guidance, and the Administrative Law Judge is not bound by the range 

of appropriate orders in 46 CPR 5 .569( d). Appeal Decision 2578 (CALLAHAN) (1996); 

Appeal Decision 2475 (BOURDO) (1988). Evidence of mitigating or aggravating 

circumstances may justifY departing from the suggested range. 46 CPR 5.569(d). 

The Coast Guard recommends a sanction of revocation and cites the following 

cases for support: Appeal Decision 2578 (CALLAHAN) (1996) ("Refusal to submit to a 

post incident chemical test raises a serious doubt about a mariner's ability to perform 

safely and competently in the future ... if mariners could refuse to submit to chemical 

testing and face a lesser Order, it is difficult to imagine why anyone that may have used 

drugs would ever consent to be tested.") and Appeal Decision 2624 (DOWNS) (2001) 

(citing CALLAHAN). (Tr. at 153-154). 

However, the Respondent argues that the Appeal Decisions the Coast Guard cites 

do not apply, because CALLAHAN involved a refusal to test after an accident and 

DOWNS involved a reasonable cause test and not a random drug test. (Tr. at 158). 

Respondent also argues that 46 U.S.C. 7703 gives the Administrative Law Judge 

discretion to decide whether Respondent's license should be suspended or revoked, and 

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in the event the charges are found proved, Respondent requests a suspension not more 

than six months. (Tr. at 159-160). 

Upon consideration of the above, I find that a mariner's refusal to take a chemical 

test for drugs and alcohol when ordered to do so by his marine employer, as part of the 

required Coast Guard drug testing program, must result in the revocation of that 

individual's Coast Guard issued license and/or document regardless of the type of test 

involved (post accident, pre-employment, random, probable cause, or periodic). There 

can be no distinction between the type of DOT drug test involved and the sanction issued. 

Each type of test is an integral part of the Congressional and Coast Guard's effort to root 

out substance abuse in the merchant marine. All refusals raise the specter of the 

mariner's illicit drug use and place in doubt the ability of a mariner to safely carry out 

his/her duties and responsibilities on the vessel. These considerations are particularly 

applicable in this case when the Master of the vessel refused to take the drug/alcohol test. 

Therefore, revocation is the appropriate sanction. 

ORDER 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all licenses issued to Kenneth Roussell by the 

U.S. Coast Guard are revoked. 

Done and dated on this 1st day of April, 2004 

Norfolk, Virginia 

10 

eter A. Fitzpatrick 

Administrative Law Ju ge