OFFICERS AND MERCHANT SEAMEN 183 



Suspension or revocation of certificates of service or efficiency 



46 U.S.C. 672(h) 



All certificates of service or efficiency issued by the Bureau of 

 Marine Inspection and Xavi^ation or the Coast Guard shall be subject 

 to suspension or revocation on the same grounds and in the same man- 

 ner and with like procedure as is provided in the case of suspension or 

 revocation of licenses of officers under the provisions of section 239 of 

 this title. 



Penalty for service without certificate of service 



46 U.S.C. 672(i) 



It shall be unlawful to employ any person, or for any person to serve 

 aboard any merchant vessel of the United States, below the rating of 

 licensed officer, who has not a certificate of service issued by a board of 

 local inspectors or the Coast Guard and anyone violating this section 

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



Freedom of seaman unimpaired 



46 U.S.C. 672(k) 



Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose, sanction, or 

 permit any condition of involuntary servitude nor to prevent any sea- 

 man from leaving the service of any vessel when in a safe harbor to 

 the same extent and with like effect as under the provisions of existing 

 law. 



Exceptions to section 672; unrigged vessels, tugs, and towboats 



46 U.S.C. 672b 



The provisions of section 672 of this title, requiring the manning 

 of certain merchant vessels by persons holding certificates of service 

 or efficiency issued by the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Naviga- 

 tion or the Coast Guard shall not apply as to unrigged vessels, except 

 seagoing barges, and that, insofar as said provisions apply to tugs and 

 towboats, the said provisions are hereby modified as follows: 



(a) Able seamen shall not be required in the deck crew of tugs and 

 towboats on the bays and sounds connected directly with the seas, and 

 every person may be rated an able seaman for the purpose of serving 

 on tugs and towboats on the seas who is nineteen years of age and 

 upwards and who has had at least eighteen months of service on deck 

 at sea or on the Great Lakes or on the bays and sounds connected di- 

 rectly with the seas ; and 



(b) Service and rating at least equal to that of coal passer or wiper 

 in the engine department of tugs and towboats operating on the seas 

 or Great Lakes or on the bays and sounds connected directly with the 

 seas shall be considered as meeting the requirement of subsection (e) 

 of section 672 of this title which requires that an applicant for rating 

 under that subsection shall produce to the Coast Guard definite proof 

 of at least six months' service at sea in a rating at least equal to that 

 of coal passer or wiper in the engine department of vessels required 

 by said section to have such certificated men. 



