Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73
§2303a Post serious marine casualty alcohol testing
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part A— - General Provisions › Chapter CHAPTER 23— - OPERATION OF VESSELS GENERALLY › § 2303a
Summary
The Secretary must create rules so crew and other safety personnel involved in a serious marine accident are alcohol-tested within 2 hours unless accident-related dangers make testing unsafe. If testing is delayed, it must be done as soon as it is safe but no later than 8 hours after the accident.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §2303a
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that after a serious marine casualty occurs, alcohol testing of crew members or other individuals responsible for the operation or other safety-sensitive functions of the vessel or vessels involved in such casualty is conducted no later than 2 hours after the casualty occurs, unless such testing cannot be completed within that time due to safety concerns directly related to the casualty.
(b)The procedures in subsection (a) shall require that if alcohol testing cannot be completed within 2 hours of the occurrence of the casualty, such testing shall be conducted as soon thereafter as the safety concerns in subsection (a) have been adequately addressed to permit such testing, except that such testing may not be required more than 8 hours after the casualty occurs.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “individuals” for “persons”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 2303a
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73