§51901 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can give medals, decorations, ribbons, plaques, and similar insignia to people in the U.S. merchant marine. The look of these awards can be like military medals when the act or service is like what the armed forces do. The Secretary can give a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding acts beyond duty, a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious acts in the line of duty that are less than outstanding, medals for service during war, a national emergency declared by the President or Congress, or dangerous overseas operations, and medals for other acts of great bravery under dangerous conditions that would justify a similar military award.

Title 46, §51901

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may award decorations and medals of appropriate design (including ribbons, ribbon bars, emblems, rosettes, miniature facsimiles, plaques, citations, or other suitable devices or insignia) for individual acts or service in the merchant marine of the United States. The design may be similar to the design of a decoration or medal authorized for members of the armed forces for similar acts or service.

(b)The Secretary may award—

(1)a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to an individual for outstanding acts, conduct, or valor beyond the line of duty;

(2)a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal to an individual for meritorious acts, conduct, or valor in the line of duty, but not of the outstanding character that would warrant the award of the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal;

(3)a decoration or medal to an individual for service during a war, national emergency proclaimed by the President or Congress, or operations by the armed forces outside the continental United States under conditions of danger to life and property; and

(4)a decoration or medal to an individual for other acts or service of conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and extraordinary heroism under conditions of danger to life and property that would warrant a similar decoration or medal for a member of the armed forces.

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 51901(a)46 App.:2001.Pub. L. 100–324, §§ 2, 3, 5(d), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 576, 577. 46 App.:2004(d). 51901(b)46 App.:2002.

§51901 Awards for individual acts or service

Summary

Title 46, §51901

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Citations & Metadata