PRIA Logo™
Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§51705 Training for Use of Force Against Piracy

Title 46 › Subtitle V — Merchant Marine › Part B — Merchant Marine Service › CHAPTER 517 — OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING › § 51705

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation, with the Secretaries of Defense and the Coast Guard’s department, must approve a training course for U.S. mariners on using force against pirates. The course must cover high‑risk waters named by the Coast Guard; current pirate threats and attack patterns; defense tactics and gear limits; the section 912(c) rules (Public Law 111–281; 46 U.S.C. 8107 note), including firearm safety (section 55305); and steps to survive if taken hostage.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §51705

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall certify a training curriculum for United States mariners on the use of force against pirates. The curriculum shall include—
(1)information on waters designated as high-risk waters by the Commandant of the Coast Guard;
(2)information on current threats and patterns of attack by pirates;
(3)tactics for defense of a vessel, including instruction on the types, use, and limitations of security equipment;
(4)standard rules for the use of force for self-defense as developed by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating under section 912(c) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 46 U.S.C. 8107 note), including instruction on firearm safety for crewmembers of vessels carrying cargo under section 55305 of this title; and
(5)procedures to follow to improve crewmember survivability if captured and taken hostage by pirates.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Deadline Pub. L. 112–213, title V, § 502(b), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1575, provided that: “The Secretary of Transportation shall certify the curriculum required under the amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2012].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 51705

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102