§ 7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials

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.

1. 2016

   Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015

   Pub. L. 114–120 title III § 315(a)(1) · 130 Stat. 27

   Enacted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510

   Added Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 315(a)(1), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 60

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Added Pub. L. 114–120, title III, § 315(a)(1), Feb. 8, 2016, 130 Stat. 60

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) In general.— Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following: “§ 7510. Examinations for merchant mariner credentials “(a) Disclosure Not Required.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is not required to disclose to the public— “(1) a question from any examination for a merchant mariner credential; “(2) the answer to such a question, including any correct or incorrect answer that may be presented with such question; and “(3) any quality or characteristic of such a question, including— “(A) the manner in which such question has been, is, or may be selected for an examination; “(B) the frequency of such selection; and “(C) the frequency that an examinee correctly or incorrectly answered such question. “(b) Exception for Certain Questions.— Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may, for the purpose of preparation by the general public for examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, release an examination question and answer that the Secretary has retired or is not presently on or part of an examination, or that the Secretary determines is appropriate for release. “(c) Exam Review.— “(1) In general.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, and once every two years thereafter, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall commission a working group to review new questions for inclusion in examinations required for merchant mariner credentials, composed of— “(A) 1 subject matter expert from the Coast Guard; “(B) representatives from training facilities and the maritime industry, of whom— “(i) one-half shall be representatives from approved training facilities; and “(ii) one-half shall be representatives from the appropriate maritime industry; “(C) at least 1 representative from the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee; “(D) at least 2 representatives from the State maritime academies, of whom one shall be a representative from the deck training track and one shall be a representative of the engine license track; “(E) representatives from other Coast Guard Federal advisory committees, as appropriate, for the industry segment associated with the subject examinations; “(F) at least 1 subject matter expert from the Maritime Administration; and “(G) at least 1 human performance technology representative. “(2) Inclusion of persons knowledgeable about examination type.— The working group shall include representatives knowledgeable about the examination type under review. “(3) Limitation.— The requirement to convene a working group under paragraph (1) does not apply unless there are new examination questions to review. “(4) Baseline review.— “(A) In general.— Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall convene the working group to complete a baseline review of the Coast Guard’s Merchant Mariner Credentialing Examination, including review of— “(i) the accuracy of examination questions; “(ii) the accuracy and availability of examination references; “(iii) the length of merchant mariner examinations; and “(iv) the use of standard technologies in administering, scoring, and analyzing the examinations. “(B) Progress report.— The Coast Guard shall provide a progress report to the appropriate congressional committees on the review under this paragraph. “(5) Full membership not required.— The Coast Guard may convene the working group without all members present if any non-Coast-Guard representative is present. “(6) Nondisclosure agreement.— The Secretary shall require all members of the working group to sign a nondisclosure agreement with the Secretary. “(7) Treatment of members as federal employees.— A member of the working group who is not a Federal Government employee shall not be considered a Federal employee in the service or the employment of the Federal Government, except that such a member shall be considered a special government employee, as defined in section 202(a) of title 18 for purposes of sections 203, 205, 207, 208, and 209 of such title and shall be subject to any administrative standards of conduct applicable to an employee of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating. “(8) Formal exam review.— The Secretary shall ensure that the Coast Guard Performance Technology Center— “(A) prioritizes the review of examinations required for merchant mariner credentials; and “(B) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015, completes a formal review, including an appropriate analysis, of the topics and testing methodology employed by the National Maritime Center for merchant seamen licensing. “(9) FACA.— The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall not apply to any working group created under this section to review the Coast Guard’s merchant mariner credentialing examinations. “(d) Merchant Mariner Credential Defined.— In this section, the term ‘merchant mariner credential’ means a merchant seaman license, certificate, or document that the Secretary is authorized to issue pursuant to this title.” .

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 114–120, see section 3503(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 2182 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

2. 2016

   National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

   Pub. L. 114–328 § 3503(a) · 130 Stat. 2000

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)

   Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(a), in introductory provisions, substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(a), in introductory provisions, substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Short Title Correction.— The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–120) is amended by striking “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015” each place it appears (including in quoted material) and inserting “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 114–120, see section 3503(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 2182 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

3. 2016

   National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

   Pub. L. 114–328 § 3503(b)(1)(A) · 130 Stat. 2000

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)(D)

   Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(b)(1)(A), substituted “engineer” for “engine”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(1)(D). Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(b)(1)(A), substituted “engineer” for “engine”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (A) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking “engine” and inserting “engineer”; and

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 114–120, see section 3503(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 2182 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

4. 2016

   National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

   Pub. L. 114–328 § 3503(a) · 130 Stat. 2000

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A); 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(8)(B)

   Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(a), substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(4)(A), (8)(B). Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(a), substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Short Title Correction.— The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–120) is amended by striking “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015” each place it appears (including in quoted material) and inserting “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 114–120, see section 3503(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 2182 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

5. 2016

   National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

   Pub. L. 114–328 § 3503(b)(1)(B) · 130 Stat. 2000

   Inserted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(9)

   Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(b)(1)(B), inserted a period after “App”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 114–328, § 3503(b)(1)(B), inserted a period after “App”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) in paragraph (9), by inserting a period after “App”.

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 114–328 effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 114–120, see section 3503(e) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 2182 of Title 14, Coast Guard.

6. 2018

   John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

   Pub. L. 115–232 div. C title XXXV § 3541(b)(12) · 132 Stat. 1636

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)

   Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “Commandant” for “Commandant of the Coast Guard” in introductory provisions

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “Commandant” for “Commandant of the Coast Guard” in introductory provisions.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (12) Section 7510(c)(1) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking “Commandant of the Coast Guard” and inserting “Commandant”.

7. 2018

   Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018

   Pub. L. 115–282 title VI § 601(c)(3)(B) · 132 Stat. 4192

   Inserted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)(C)

   Pub. L. 115–282 inserted “National” before “Merchant Marine”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–282 inserted “National” before “Merchant Marine”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) Conforming amendment.— Section 7510(c)(1)(C) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by inserting “National” before “Merchant Marine”.

8. 2021

   Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 8505(b)(7)(A) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(8)(B)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(b)(7)(A), substituted “merchant mariner” for “merchant seamen”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (c)(8)(B). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(b)(7)(A), substituted “merchant mariner” for “merchant seamen”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (A) in subsection (c)(8)(B), by striking “merchant seamen” and inserting “merchant mariner”; and

9. 2021

   Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020

   Pub. L. 116–283 § 8505(b)(7)(B) · 134 Stat. 3388

   Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(d)

   Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(b)(7)(B), substituted “merchant mariner license” for “merchant seaman license”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, § 8505(b)(7)(B), substituted “merchant mariner license” for “merchant seaman license”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (B) in subsection (d), by striking “merchant seaman” and inserting “merchant mariner”.

10. 2022

    Pub. L. 117–286 § 4(a)(290) · 136 Stat. 4196

    1. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(9)

       Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “FACA” in text

    2. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(9)

       Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” in text

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “FACA” in heading and “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” in text.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (290) Section 7510(c)(9) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking “FACA” and inserting “Chapter 10 of title 5”; and (B) in text, by striking “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” and inserting “Chapter 10 of title 5”.

11. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(A) · 139 Stat. 1755

    Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(A), substituted “Working Group” for “Exam Review” in heading

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(A), substituted “Working Group” for “Exam Review” in heading.

12. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(B)(i) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(i)–(iii), substituted “180 days” for “90 days” in introductory provisions

    2. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(i)–(iii), substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” in introductory provisions

    3. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(i)–(iii), substituted “questions, content, and relevancy of” for “new questions for inclusion in” in introductory provisions

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(i)–(iii), substituted “180 days” for “90 days”, “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016”, and “questions, content, and relevancy of” for “new questions for inclusion in” in introductory provisions.

13. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(B)(iv) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Added · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)(E)(I)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(iv), (v), added subpars. (E) and (F)

    2. Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(1)(E)(I)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(iv), (v), redesignated former subpars. (E) to (G) as (G) to (I), respectively

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(1)(E) to (I). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(B)(iv), (v), added subpars. (E) and (F) and redesignated former subpars. (E) to (G) as (G) to (I), respectively.

14. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(D) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Added · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(3)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (F), added par. (3)

    2. Struck · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(3)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (F), struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The requirement to convene a working group under paragraph (1) does not apply unless there are new examination questions to review.”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (F), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The requirement to convene a working group under paragraph (1) does not apply unless there are new examination questions to review.”

15. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(F) · 139 Stat. 1755

    Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(F), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(F), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

16. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(C)(i) · 139 Stat. 1755

    Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(i), substituted “Review” for “Baseline review” in heading

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(i), substituted “Review” for “Baseline review” in heading.

17. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Added · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV)–(VII), added cl. (i)

    2. Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV)–(VII), redesignated former cls. (i) to (iii) as (ii) to (iv), respectively

    3. Added · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV)–(VII), added cls. (v) and (vi)

    4. Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV)–(VII), redesignated former cl. (iv) as (vii)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(IV)–(VII), added cl. (i), redesignated former cls. (i) to (iii) as (ii) to (iv), respectively, added cls. (v) and (vi), and redesignated former cl. (iv) as (vii).

18. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(I) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(I)–(III), substituted “Not later than 270 days” for “Within 1 year” in introductory provisions

    2. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(I)–(III), substituted “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016” in introductory provisions

    3. Substituted · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(A)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(I)–(III), substituted “Commandant” for “Secretary” in introductory provisions

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(ii)(I)–(III), substituted “Not later than 270 days” for “Within 1 year”, “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025” for “Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016”, and “Commandant” for “Secretary” in introductory provisions.

19. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(C)(iii) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Added · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(B)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(iii), added subpar. (B)

    2. Struck · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(4)(B)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(iii), struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Coast Guard shall provide a progress report to the appropriate congressional committees on the review under this paragraph.”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(4)(B). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(C)(iii), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Coast Guard shall provide a progress report to the appropriate congressional committees on the review under this paragraph.”

20. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(D) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(5)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), redesignated par. (4) as (5)

    2. Struck · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(5)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), struck out par. (5). Text read as follows: “The Coast Guard may convene the working group without all members present if any non-Coast-Guard representative is present.”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), redesignated par. (4) as (5) and struck out par. (5). Text read as follows: “The Coast Guard may convene the working group without all members present if any non-Coast-Guard representative is present.”

21. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(D) · 139 Stat. 1755

    1. Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(8)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), redesignated par. (9) as (8)

    2. Struck · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(8)

       Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), struck out par. (8). Text read as follows: “The Secretary shall ensure that the Coast Guard Performance Technology Center—

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(D), (E), redesignated par. (9) as (8) and struck out par. (8). Text read as follows: “The Secretary shall ensure that the Coast Guard Performance Technology Center—

    “(A) prioritizes the review of examinations required for merchant mariner credentials; and “(B) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2016, completes a formal review, including an appropriate analysis, of the topics and testing methodology employed by the National Maritime Center for merchant mariner licensing.”

22. 2025

    Pub. L. 119–60 § 7301(g)(2)(E) · 139 Stat. 1755

    Redesignated · 46 U.S.C. § 7510(c)(9)

    Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(E), redesignated par. (9) as (8)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–60 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(2)(E), redesignated par. (9) as (8).

11 of 35 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 24 unresolved