
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC7312]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
      Part E--Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents
 
                CHAPTER 73--MERCHANT MARINERS' DOCUMENTS
 
Sec. 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 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 
or on a vessel operating on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River 
as far east as Sept Iles. 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--special 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 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 or on 
    a seagoing barge or towing vessel; and
        (2) not more than 50 percent of the number of able seamen 
    required on board other vessels.

    (d) Individuals qualified as able seamen--offshore supply vessels 
under section 7310 of this title may constitute all of the able seamen 
required on board 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.
    (e) When the service of able seamen--limited or able seamen--special 
is authorized for only a part of the required number of able seamen on 
board a vessel, the combined percentage of those individuals so 
qualified may not be greater than 50 percent of the required number.
    (f) Individuals qualified as able seamen--fishing industry under 
section 7311a of this title may constitute--
        (1) all of the able seamen required on a fish processing vessel 
    entered into service before January 1, 1988, and of more than 1,600 
    gross tons but not more than 5,000 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; and
        (2) all of the able seamen required on a fish processing vessel 
    entered into service after December 31, 1987, and having more than 
    16 individuals on board primarily employed in the preparation of 
    fish or fish products but of not more than 5,000 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.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 98-364, title IV, 
Sec. 402(9)(E), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 448; Pub. L. 99-307, Sec. 1(11), 
May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 445; Pub. L. 104-324, title VII, Sec. 723, Oct. 
19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7312..............................  46:672(f)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 7312(a) provides that able seamen--unlimited may constitute 
all of the able seamen required on a vessel.
    Subsection (b) provides that able seamen--limited may constitute 100 
percent of the able seamen required on board vessels of less than 600 
gross tons operating on the Great Lakes and 50 percent of the number of 
able seamen required on the larger vessels.
    Subsection (c) provides that able seamen--special may constitute 100 
percent of the able seamen required on vessels not more than 500 gross 
tons, or a seagoing barge or towing vessel. Able seamen--special may 
only constitute up to 50 percent of the number of able seamen required 
on other vessels.
    Subsection (d) provides that able seamen--offshore supply vessels 
may constitute 100 percent of the number of able seamen required on 
vessels of less than 500 gross tons engaged in support of exploration, 
exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy facilities. 
They may not serve on board other vessels as an able seaman until they 
have the appropriate required document.
    Subsection (e) provides that the total number of able seamen--
limited or able seamen--special may not be greater than 50 percent of 
the required number of able seamen on a vessel.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 723(1), 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 ``1,600 gross 
tons''.
    Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 723(2), 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''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 723(3), 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''.
    Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 723(4), 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 ``5,000 gross tons''.
    Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 104-324, Sec. 723(5), 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 ``5,000 gross tons''.
    1986--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99-307 substituted ``able seamen--
limited'' for ``able seaman--limited''.
    1984--Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98-364 added subsec. (f).
