PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§8304 Implementing the Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part F— - Manning of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 83— - MASTERS AND OFFICERS › § 8304

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires masters, mates, and engineers on U.S.-documented ships going to the high seas to have a license under section 7101. That license counts as a certificate of competency. This rule enforces the Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936, which was ratified on September 1, 1938. It does not apply to public vessels, wooden primitive boats (like dhows or junks), barges, or vessels under 200 gross tons as measured under section 14502 (or an alternate tonnage under section 14302 as set by the Secretary under section 14104). A person may not hire, and no one may serve as, a master, mate, or engineer on an affected vessel without the required license. Anyone who breaks this rule is liable for a $100 civil penalty. A designated official may detain a vessel by written order if they think it will leave a U.S. port in violation of the rule, and they can hold the ship until it complies; detained foreign vessels on U.S. waters may be examined. The owner or agent can appeal a detention within 5 days under the rules, and Customs Service officers may be assigned to enforce these rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §8304

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “high seas” means waters seaward of the Boundary Line.
(b)The Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (International Labor Organization Draft Convention Numbered 53, on the minimum requirement of professional capacity for masters and officers on board merchant vessels), as ratified by the President on September 1, 1938, with understandings appended, and this section apply to a documented vessel operating on the high seas except—
(1)a public vessel;
(2)a wooden vessel of primitive build, such as a dhow or junk;
(3)a barge; and
(4)a vessel of less than 200 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title.
(c)A person may not engage or employ an individual to serve as, and an individual may not serve as, a master, mate, or engineer on a vessel to which this section applies, if the individual does not have a license issued under section 7101 of this title authorizing service in the capacity in which the individual is to be engaged or employed.
(d)A person (including an individual) violating this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $100.
(e)A license issued to an individual to whom this section applies is a certificate of competency.
(f)A designated official may detain a vessel to which this section applies (by written order served on the owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of the vessel) when there is reason to believe that the vessel is about to proceed from a port of the United States to the high seas in violation of this section or a provision of the convention described in subsection (b) of this section. The vessel may be detained until the vessel complies with this section. Clearance may not be granted to a vessel ordered detained under this section.
(g)A foreign vessel to which the convention described in subsection (b) of this section applies, on the navigable waters of the United States, is subject to detention under subsection (f) of this section, and to an examination that may be necessary to decide if there is compliance with the convention.
(h)The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, master, or individual in charge of a vessel detained under subsection (f) or (g) of this section may appeal the order within 5 days as provided by regulation.
(i)An officer or employee of the Customs Service may be designated to enforce this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 830446:224a46:241 section 8304 implements the Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936, as ratified by the President on September 1, 1938, with understandings appended. Subsection (a) defines “high seas” for this section. Subsection (b) implements the Convention, applies the Convention to United States vessels on the high seas, and exempts certain vessels. Subsection (c) prohibits the employment or service of an individual as a master, mate, or engineer on a vessel under this section unless the individual has a license issued under section 7101 for the particular capacity in which the individual is employed. Subsection (d) prescribes a civil penalty for violating this section. Subsection (e) states that the license referred to in subsection (c) is a certificate of competency for purposes of the Convention. Subsection (f) provides for the detention of a vessel in violation of this section or the Convention. Subsection (g) applies the detention provision to a foreign vessel on the navigable waters of the United States and subjects it to an examination for compliance with the Convention. Subsection (h) provides for an appeal of the detention order. Subsection (i) permits the designation of a Customs Service officer or employee to enforce this section.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out in 54 Stat. Pt. 2, p. 1683.

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “200 gross tons”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 8304

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73