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Notes

46 U.S.C. §§ 7307–7311a

6 sections in range

§7307. Able seamen—unlimited

46 U.S.C. § 7307

The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—unlimited, qualified for unlimited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 18 months1 service on deck on board vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original. Probably should be “18 months’ ”.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1753.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section Source section (U.S. Code)
7307 46:672(b)(1)

Section 7307 requires individuals to have at least 3 years service on deck on vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes before their merchant mariner’s documents can be endorsed as able seamen—unlimited.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “18 months” for “3 years”, was executed by making the substitution for “3 years’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service

Pub. L. 118–31, div. C, title XXXV, § 3534(j), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 833, provided that: “For the 3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023]— section 7307 of title 46, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting ‘18 months’ for ‘3 years’; section 7308 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘12 months’ for ‘18 months’; and section 7309 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘6 months’ for ‘12 months’.”

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.

§7308. Able seamen—limited

46 U.S.C. § 7308

The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—limited, qualified for limited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 12 months1 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. 1 So in original. Probably should be “12 months’ ”.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 721, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1754.)

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

Amendments

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 Dec. 22, 2023, 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.

§7309. Able seamen—special

46 U.S.C. § 7309

The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—special, qualified for special service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 6 months1 service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original. Probably should be “6 months’ ”.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(4), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1754.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section Source section (U.S. Code)
7309 46:672(b)(3)

Section 7309 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to qualify as able seamen—special.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “6 months” for “12 months”, was executed by making the substitution for “12 months’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service

Section to be applied by substituting “6 months” for “12 months” for the 3-year period beginning on Dec. 22, 2023, 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.

§7310. Able seamen—offshore supply vessels

46 U.S.C. § 7310

For service on a vessel of less than 500 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 engaged in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources, an individual may be rated as able seaman—offshore supply vessels if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 722, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section Source section (U.S. Code)
7310 46:672(b)(3)

Section 7310 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to serve as able seamen—offshore supply vessels on vessels of less than 500 gross tons engaged in the exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

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 “500 gross tons”.

§7311. Able seamen—sail

46 U.S.C. § 7311

For service on a sailing school vessel on any waters, an individual may be rated as able seaman—sail if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on sailing school vessels, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail, or equivalent sailing vessels operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section Source section (U.S. Code)
7311 46:672(b)(4)

Section 7311 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to qualify as able seamen—sail on board sailing vessels.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.

§7311a. Able seamen—fishing industry

46 U.S.C. § 7311a

For service on a fish processing vessel, an individual may be rated as able seaman—fishing industry if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Added Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 402(9)(D), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 448.)