Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60

§15104 National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part K— National Maritime Transportation Advisory Committees › Chapter 151— NATIONAL MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEES › § 15104

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee. The committee must advise the Secretary about medical decisions for mariner licenses and documents, physical fitness standards for commercial vessel operators, training for medical examiners, and medical research. The committee has 14 members appointed by the Secretary under this section and section 15109. Each member must have relevant expertise. Nine must be health‑care professionals experienced in mariner medical exams or occupational medicine, and five must be professional mariners with knowledge of mariner job requirements.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §15104

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is established a National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”).

(b)The Committee shall advise the Secretary on matters relating to—

(1)medical certification determinations for the issuance of licenses, certification of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents with respect to merchant mariners;

(2)medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels;

(3)medical examiner education; and

(4)medical research.

(c)(1)The Committee shall consist of 14 members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with this section and section 15109 of this chapter.

(2)Each member of the Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Committee.

(3)Members of the Committee shall be appointed as follows:

(A)9 shall represent health-care professionals and have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience regarding the medical examinations of merchant mariners or occupational medicine.

(B)5 shall represent professional mariners and have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in occupational requirements for mariners.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 15104

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60