97 STAT. 554 PUBLIC LAW 98-89 —AUG. 26, 1983 CHAPTER 87—UNLICENSED PERSONNEL Sec. 8701. Merchant mariners' documents required. 8702. Certain crew requirements. 8703. Tankermen on tank vessels. § 8701. Merchant mariners' documents required (a) This section applies to a merchant vessel of at least 100 gross tons except— (1) a vessel operating only on rivers and lakes (except the Great Lakes); (2) a bai^e (except a seagoing barge or a barge to which Ante, p. 520. chapter 37 of this title applies); (3) a fishing or whaling vessel or a yacht; (4) a sailing school vessel with respect to sailing school instructors and sailing school students; and (5) an oceeinographic research vessel with respect to scientific personnel. (b) A person may not engage or employ an individual, and an individual may not serve, on board a vessel to which this section applies if the individual does not have a merchant mariner's docu- ment issued to the individual under section 7302 of this title. Except for an individual required to be licensed or registered under this part, the document must authorize service in the capacity for which the holder of the document is engaged or employed. (c) On a vessel to which section 10306 or 10503 of this title does not apply, an individual required by this section to hold a merchant mariner's document must exhibit it to the master of the vessel before the individual may be employed. Civil penalty. (d) A porson (including an individual) violating this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $500. § 8702. Certain crew requirements (a) This section applies to a vessel of at least 100 gross tons except— (1) a vessel operating only on rivers and lakes (except the Great Lakes); (2) a barge (except a seagoing barge or a barge to which chapter 37 of this title applies); (3) a fishing or whaling vessel or a yacht; (4) a sailing school vessel with respect to sailing school instructors and sailing school students; and (5) an oceanographic research vessel with respect to scientific personnel. (b) A vessel may depart from a port of the United States only if at least— (1) 75 percent of the crew in each department on board is able to understand any order spoken by the officers, and (2) 65 percent of the deck crew (excluding licensed individuals) have merchant mariners' documents endorsed for a rating of at least able seaman, except that this percentage may be reduced to 50 percent on a vessel permitted under section 8104 of this title to maintain a 2-watch system. (c) An able seaman is not required on a towing vessel operating on bays and sounds connected directly with the seas.
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