46 U.S.C. § 7302 (SHIPPING)
§ 7302. Issuing merchant mariners’ documents and continuous discharge books
(a) The Secretary shall issue a merchant mariner’s document to an individual required to have that document under part F of this subtitle if the individual satisfies the requirements of this part. The document serves as a certificate of identification and as a certificate of service, specifying each rating in which the holder is qualified to serve on board vessels on which that document is required under part F.
(b) The Secretary also may issue a continuous discharge book to an individual issued a merchant mariner’s document if the individual requests.
(c) The Secretary may not issue a merchant mariner’s document under this chapter unless the individual applying for the document makes available to the Secretary, under section 30305(b)(5) of title 49, any information contained in the National Driver Register related to an offense described in section 30304(a)(3)(A) or (B) of title 49 committed by the individual.
(d) The Secretary may review the criminal record of an individual who applies for a merchant mariner’s document under this section.
(e) The Secretary shall require the testing of an individual applying for issuance or renewal of a merchant mariner’s document under this chapter for the use of a dangerous drug in violation of law or Federal regulation.
(f) Periods of Validity and Renewal of Merchant Mariners’ Documents.—
(1) In general.—
Except as provided in subsection (g), a merchant mariner’s document issued under this chapter is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods.
(2) Advance renewals.—
A renewed merchant mariner’s document may be issued under this chapter up to 8 months in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously issued merchant mariner’s document expires or until the completion of any active suspension or revocation of that previously issued merchant mariner’s document, whichever is later.
(g)
(1) The Secretary may, pending receipt and review of information required under subsections (c) and (d), immediately issue an interim merchant mariner’s document valid for a period not to exceed 120 days, to—
(A) an individual to be employed as gaming personnel, entertainment personnel, wait staff, or other service personnel on board a passenger vessel not engaged in foreign service, with no duties, including emergency duties, related to the navigation of the vessel or the safety of the vessel, its crew, cargo or passengers; or
(B) an individual seeking renewal of, or qualifying for a supplemental endorsement to, a valid merchant mariner’s document issued under this section.
(2) No more than one interim document may be issued to an individual under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.
(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 542; Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, §§ 4101(b), 4102(c), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 107–295, title III, § 324(a), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2104; Pub. L. 108–293, title VI, § 609(1), Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1058; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 901(h)(1), (2), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 564; Pub. L. 111–281, title VI, § 614(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 2970.)
text: Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section
Source section (U.S. Code)
7302
46:239a(c)
46:643(a)
46:643(c)
46:672(i)
Section 7302(a) requires the Secretary to issue a merchant mariner’s document to qualified individuals required to have that document as a prerequisite to employment on certain vessels of the United States. The purpose of the document is to serve as positive identification and to specify each rating in which the individual is qualified to serve on vessels.
Subsection (b) allows the Secretary to issue a continuous discharge book to an individual who requests a book.
heading: Amendments
text: 2010—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–281 amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows: “Except as provided in subsection (g), a merchant mariner’s document issued under this chapter is valid for 5 years and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods.”
2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–241, § 901(h)(1), amended directory language of Pub. L. 108–293, § 609(1). See 2004 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 109–241, § 901(h)(2), inserted “section” before “30305(b)(5)” and before “30304(a)(3)(A)”.
2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–293, § 609(1), as amended by Pub. L. 109–241, § 901(h)(1), substituted “30305(b)(5) of title 49” for “section 206(b)(7) of the National Driver Register Act of 1982 (23 U.S.C. 401 note)” and “30304(a)(3)(A) or (B) of title 49” for “section 205(a)(3)(A) or (B) of that Act”.
2002—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107–295, § 324(a)(1), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (g), a” for “A”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 107–295, § 324(a)(2), added subsec. (g).
1990—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4101(b), added subsecs. (c) to (e).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4102(c), added subsec. (f).
heading: Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 901(h)(1), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 564, provided that the amendment made by section 901(h)(1) is effective Aug. 9, 2004.
heading: Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.
heading: Radar Refresher Training
text: Pub. L. 115–282, title VIII, § 829, Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4314, provided that: “Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2018], the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall prescribe a final rule eliminating the requirement that a mariner actively using the mariner’s credential complete an approved refresher or recertification course to maintain a radar observer endorsement. This rulemaking shall be exempt from chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, United States Code, and Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 [5 U.S.C. 601 notes].”
heading: Merchant Mariner Credential Expiration Harmonization
text: Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 304, Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 53, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (c) and not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 2016], the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall establish a process to harmonize the expiration dates of merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates, and radar observer endorsements for individuals applying to the Secretary for a new merchant mariner credential or for renewal of an existing merchant mariner credential.
“(b) Requirements.—
The Secretary shall ensure that the process established under subsection (a)—
“(1) does not require an individual to renew a merchant mariner credential earlier than the date on which the individual’s current credential expires; and
“(2) results in harmonization of expiration dates for merchant mariner credentials, mariner medical certificates, and radar observer endorsements for all individuals by not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 8, 2016].
“(c) Exception.—
The process established under subsection (a) does not apply to individuals—
“(1) holding a merchant mariner credential with—
“(A) an active Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping endorsement; or
“(B) Federal first-class pilot endorsement; or
“(2) who have been issued a time-restricted medical certificate.”
heading: Crediting of United States Armed Forces Service, Training, and Qualifications
text: Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 305(c), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3044, provided that:
“(1) Maximizing creditability.—
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, in implementing United States merchant mariner license, certification, and document laws and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, shall maximize the extent to which United States Armed Forces service, training, and qualifications are creditable toward meeting the requirements of such laws and such Convention.
“(2) Notification.—
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2014], the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the steps taken to implement this subsection.”
heading: Merchant Mariners’ Documents Pilot Program
text: Pub. L. 108–293, title VI, § 611, Aug. 9, 2004, 118 Stat. 1058, provided that: “The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may conduct a pilot program to demonstrate methods to improve processes and procedures for issuing merchant mariners’ documents.”
heading: Termination of Existing Licenses, Certificates, and Documents; Applicability of 1990 Amendment
text: For provisions that a merchant mariner’s document issued before Aug. 18, 1990, terminates on the day it would have expired if the amendment to this section by section 4102(c) of Pub. L. 101–380 were in effect on date it was issued and was renewed at the end of each 5-year period under this section, see section 4102(d) of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as a note under section 7106 of this title.