§15103 National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

Summary

Creates a National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee to give the Secretary advice about mariner personnel issues, including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness. The Committee has 19 members chosen by the Secretary. Nine must be mariners who are U.S. citizens with an active license under chapter 71 or a merchant mariner document under chapter 73. Those nine include three deck officers (two licensed for oceans any gross tons, one licensed for inland river routes; two with a master’s or master of towing license; one with significant tanker experience; where possible one should represent labor and one management), three engineering officers (two licensed as chief engineer any horsepower, one as a limited chief engineer or designated duty engineer; where possible one should represent labor and one management), two unlicensed seamen (one able‑bodied seaman and one qualified engine department member), and one pilot. Six are marine educators (three tied to maritime academies — two representing State maritime academies jointly recommended and one representing either State academies or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy — and three from other maritime training institutions, including one for the small vessel industry). Two represent shipping companies involved in ship operation management, and two represent the general public.