Chapter 6.— OFFICERS OF MERCHANT VESSELS AND 

 MERCHANT SEAMEN 



SUBCHAPTER 6A.— GENERAL PROVISIONS 

 Definitions 

 46 U.S.C. 713 (R.S. 4612) 



In the construction of title 53 of the Revised Statutes, every per- 

 son having the command of any vessel belonging to any citizen of 

 the United States shall be deemed to be the "master" thereof; and 

 every person (apprentices excepted) who shall be employed or en- 

 gaged to serve m any capacity on board the same shall be deemed 

 and taken to be a "seaman"; and the term "vessel" shall be under- 

 stood to comprehend every description of vessel navigating on any 

 sea or channel, lake or river, to which the provisions of this Title 

 may be applicable, and the term "owner" shall be taken and under- 

 stood to comprehend all the several persons, if more than one, to 

 whom the vessel shall belong. 



Note. — The schedules and tables in 46 U.S.C. 713 are omitted from this publication. 

 This material is requirpd to be printed and posted on board vessels subject to the provisions 

 of title 53 of the Revised Statutes regarding "Merchant Seamen." 



Licensing of officers 



46 U.S.C. 224 (R.S. 4438) 



The Coast Guard shall license and classify the masters, chief 

 mates, and second and third mates, if in charge of a watch, engi- 

 neers, and pilots of all steam vessels, and the masters of sail vessels 

 of over seven hundred gross tons, and all other vessels of over one 

 liundred gross tons carrying passengers for hire. It shall be unlaw- 

 ful to employ any person, or for any person to serve, as a master, 

 chief mate, engineer, or pilot of any steamer or as master of any sail 

 vessel of over seven hundred gross tons, or of any other vessel of 

 over one hundred gross tons carrying passengers for hire, who is not 

 licensed by the Coast Guard, and anyone violating this section shall 

 be liable to a penalty of $100 for each offense. 



Licenses to officers of vessels of the United States; exemption 

 from draft; pay and pension 



46 U.S.C. 225 



All licenses issued to such officers shall be for a term of five years, 

 but the holder of a license may have the same renewed for another 

 five years in the manner prescribed in the rules and regulations of 

 the Commandant of the Coast Guard : Promded^ however^ That any 

 officer holding a license, and who is engaged in a service which 

 necessitates his continuous absence from the United States, may 



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