Title 46 — Shipping
Part E · Chapter 73 — Merchant Mariners’ Documents
§ 7308. Able seamen—limited
Statutory text
The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—limited, qualified for limited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 12 months 1 service on deck on board vessels of at least 100 gross tons as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).
Footnotes
- 1 So in original. Probably should be “12 months’ ”.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 98–89 · 97 Stat. 500
Enacted · 46 U.S.C. § 7308
Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–324 title VII § 721 · 110 Stat. 3901
Inserted · 46 U.S.C. § 7308
Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 721. ABLE SEAMEN—LIMITED. Section 7308 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting after “100 gross tons” the following: “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title”.Pub. L. 119–60 div. G title LXXIII § 7301(d)(3) · 139 Stat. 1754
Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7308
Pub. L. 119–60, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “12 months” for “18 months”, was executed by making the amendment for “18 months’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress
Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 119–60, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “12 months” for “18 months”, was executed by making the amendment for “18 months’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial · 1 unresolved
Notes
historicalAndRevision
| Historical and Revision Notes | |
|---|---|
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 7308 | 46:672(b)(2) |
Section 7308 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to qualify for an endorsement as able seamen—limited.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1996–2025 · 2 rounds
2025
Pub. L. 119–60, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “12 months” for “18 months”, was executed by making the amendment for “18 months’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1996
Pub. L. 104–324 inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service
Section to be applied by substituting “12 months” for “18 months” for the 3-year period beginning on , see section 3534(j) of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 7307 of this title.
Acceptance of Certain Services Toward Endorsement as Able Seaman
Service used to qualify for endorsement as able seaman—fishing industry to be accepted as qualifying service toward an endorsement under this section, see section 602(e)(3) of Pub. L. 101–595, set out as a note under section 7306 of this title.
Credits
1983–2025 · 3 acts
- 1983Pub. L. 98–89, , 97 Stat. 543
- 1996Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 721, , 110 Stat. 3938
- 2025Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(3), , 139 Stat. 1754.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 98–89, , 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 721, , 110 Stat. 3938; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(3), , 139 Stat. 1754.)