Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§7301 General
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part E — Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents › CHAPTER 73 — MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS › § 7301
Summary
Defines what counts as deck service, how to count a day and a year of service, and lets the Secretary make rules to carry out the chapter. "Service on deck" means work in the deck crew doing tasks able seamen usually do and can include fishing, fish‑processing, fish‑tender, and U.S. public vessels; one year equals 360 days and one day equals 8 hours.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §7301
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In this chapter—
(1)“service on deck” means service in the deck department in work related to the work usually performed on board vessels by able seamen and may include service on fishing, fish processing, fish tender vessels and on public vessels of the United States;
(2)360 days is equal to one year’s service; and
(3)a day is equal to 8 hours of labor or duty.
(b)The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out this chapter.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 730146:672(c) section 7301 defines “service on deck”, “one year’s service” and “day” with respect to the qualifying time for the issuance of various types of endorsements as able seamen. This section also provides the Secretary with the authority to prescribe
Regulations
to carry out this chapter.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–364 substituted “fishing, fish processing, fish tender vessels” for “decked fishing vessels”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Merchant Marine Post-Service Career Opportunities Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 305(d), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3044, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2014], the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall take steps to promote better awareness, on an ongoing basis, among Coast Guard personnel regarding post-service use of Coast Guard training, education, and practical experience in satisfaction of requirements for merchant mariner credentials under section 11.213 of title 46, Code of Federal
Regulations
.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 7301
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102