Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§11202 Qualified Service

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › CHAPTER 112 — MERCHANT MARINER BENEFITS › § 11202

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Between August 16, 1945, and December 31, 1946, a person is treated as having qualified service if they were a crewmember of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) on a ship run by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation (or their agent), that sailed outside inland U.S. waters and the Great Lakes and was hired by or owned by the U.S. Government to serve the Armed Forces. While serving, the person also must have had a license or official papers issued by a U.S. officer authorized to issue them.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §11202

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For purposes of this chapter, an individual shall be considered to have engaged in qualified service if, between August 16, 1945, and December 31, 1946, the individual—
(1)was a member of the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) serving as a crewmember of a vessel that was—
(A)operated by the War Shipping Administration or the Office of Defense Transportation (or an agent of the Administration or Office);
(B)operated in waters other than inland waters, the Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays, and harbors of the United States;
(C)under contract or charter to, or property of, the Government of the United States; and
(D)serving the Armed Forces; and
(2)while so serving, was licensed or otherwise documented for service as a crewmember of such a vessel by an officer or employee of the United States authorized to license or document the individual for such service.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “an individual” for “a person” in introductory provisions and “the individual” for “the person” in introductory provisions and in par. (2).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 11202

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102