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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§51705 Training for use of force against piracy

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle V— - Merchant Marine › Part Part B— - Merchant Marine Service › Chapter CHAPTER 517— - OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING › § 51705

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must approve a training course for U.S. mariners on using force against pirates, after consulting the Secretary of Defense and the official who runs the Coast Guard. The course must cover high‑risk waters, current pirate threats and attack patterns, ship‑defense tactics and how security equipment works, the official rules for using force (including firearm safety for certain cargo crews), and steps to help crew survive if taken hostage.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §51705

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall certify a training curriculum for United States mariners on the use of force against pirates. The curriculum shall include—
(1)information on waters designated as high-risk waters by the Commandant of the Coast Guard;
(2)information on current threats and patterns of attack by pirates;
(3)tactics for defense of a vessel, including instruction on the types, use, and limitations of security equipment;
(4)standard rules for the use of force for self-defense as developed by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating under section 912(c) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 46 U.S.C. 8107 note), including instruction on firearm safety for crewmembers of vessels carrying cargo under section 55305 of this title; and
(5)procedures to follow to improve crewmember survivability if captured and taken hostage by pirates.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Deadline Pub. L. 112–213, title V, § 502(b), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1575, provided that: “The Secretary of Transportation shall certify the curriculum required under the amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2012].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 51705

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73