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Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§7511 Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part E— - Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents › Chapter CHAPTER 75— - GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND DOCUMENTATION › § 7511

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Officials must deny a merchant mariner license, certificate of registry, or mariner’s document to anyone convicted of certain sexual crimes under federal or military law (chapter 109A of title 18, except section 2244(b), or section 920 or 920b of title 10) or a substantially similar offense under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law. If a person was convicted under section 2244(b) of title 18 or a similar State, local, or Tribal law within 5 years before applying, the license may be denied.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §7511

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part shall be denied to an individual who has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under—
(1)chapter 109A of title 18, except for subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18;
(2)section 920 or 920b of title 10 (article 120 and 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); or
(3)a substantially similar offense under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law.
(b)A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who within 5 years before applying for the license, certificate, or document, has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18, or a substantially similar offense under State, local, or Tribal law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(A), struck out “or” after “title 18;”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(D), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(B), substituted “Federal, State, local, or Tribal law” for “State, local, or Tribal law”. Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(C), redesignated par. (2) as (3).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 7511

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73