Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§7705 Subpenas and oaths

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part E— - Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents › Chapter CHAPTER 77— - SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION › § 7705

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Officials running investigations or hearings about suspending or revoking maritime licenses and documents can swear witnesses and issue subpoenas for testimony and records, with the same reach and enforcement as chapter 63 subpoenas.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §7705

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(a)An official designated to investigate or preside at a hearing on matters that are grounds for suspension or revocation of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents may administer oaths and issue subpenas to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of records or other evidence during investigations and at hearings.
(b)The jurisdictional limits of a subpena issued under this section are the same as, and are enforceable in the same manner as, subpenas issued under chapter 63 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 770546:239(e) section 7705 allows officials designated to investigate or preside at hearings on matters that are grounds for suspension and revocation proceedings to administer oaths and issue subpenas.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–36 substituted “certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents” for “certificates, and documents”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 7705

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73