PUBLIC LAW 98-89 —AUG. 26, 1983 97 STAT. 543 (3) able seaman—special. (4) able seaman—offshore supply vessels. (5) able seaman—sail. § 7307. Able seamen—unlimited The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—unlim- ited, qualified for unlimited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 3 years' service on deck on board vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes. § 7308. Able seamen—limited The required service for the endorsement of able seaman— limited, qualified for limited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 18 months' service on deck on board vessels of at least 100 gross tons operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). § 7309. Able seamen—special The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—special, qualified for special service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 12 months' service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). § 7310. Able seamen—offshore supply vessels For service on a vessel of less than 500 gross tons engaged in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore min- eral 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). § 7311. Able seamen—sail 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). § 7312. Scale of employment (a) Individuals qualified as able seamen—unlimited under section 7307 of this title may constitute all of the able seamen required on a vessel. (b) Individuals qualified as able seamen—limited under section 7308 of this title may constitute all of the able seamen required on a vessel of less than 1,600 gross tons or on a vessel operating on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River as far east as Sept lies. Individuals qualified as able seamen—limited may constitute not more than 50 percent of the number of able seamen required on board other vessels. (c) Individuals qualified as able seamen—specisil under section 7309 of this title may constitute— (1) all of the able seamen required on a vessel of not more than 500 gross tons or on a seagoing barge or towing vessel; and
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