[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR15.103]

[Page 245-246]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 15_MANNING REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart A_Purpose and Applicability
 
Sec. 15.103  General.

    (a) The regulations in this part apply to all vessels which are 
subject to the manning requirements contained in the navigation and 
shipping laws of the United States, including uninspected vessels (46 
U.S.C. 7101-9308).
    (b) The navigation and shipping laws state that a vessel may not be 
operated unless certain manning requirements are met. In addition to 
establishing a minimum of licensed individuals and members of the crew 
to be carried on board certain vessels, they establish minimum 
qualifications concerning licenses, citizenship, and conditions of 
employment. It is the responsibility of the owner, charterer, managing 
operator, master, or person in charge or command of the vessel to ensure 
that appropriate personnel are carried to meet the requirements of the 
applicable navigation and shipping laws and regulations.
    (c) Inspected vessels are issued a certificate of inspection which 
indicates the minimum complement of licensed individuals and crew 
(including lifeboatmen) considered necessary for safe operation. The 
certificate of inspection complements the statutory requirements but 
does not supersede them.
    (d) The regulations in subpart J of this part apply to seagoing 
vessels subject to the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and watchkeeping for Seafarers as amended 
(STCW).
    (e) Neither any person serving on any of the following vessels, nor 
any owner or operator of any of these vessels, need meet the 
requirements of subpart J, because the vessels are exempt from 
application of STCW:
    (1) Uninspected passenger vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(42).
    (2) Fishing vessels as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(11)(a).
    (3) Fishing vessels used as fish-tender vessels as defined in 46 
U.S.C. 2101(11)(c).
    (4) Barges as defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101(2), including non-self-
propelled mobile offshore-drilling units.
    (5) Vessels operating exclusively on the Great Lakes.
    (f) Personnel serving on the following vessels, and the owners and 
operators of these vessels, are in compliance with subpart J and are not 
subject to further obligation for the purposes of STCW, on account of 
the vessels' special operating conditions as small vessels engaged in 
domestic voyages:
    (1) Small passenger vessels subject to subchapter T or K of title 
46, CFR.
    (2) Vessels of less than 200 GRT (other than passenger vessels 
subject to subchapter H of title 46 CFR).

[[Page 246]]

    (g) Licensed personnel serving on vessels identified in paragraphs 
(e)(5), (f)(1), and (f)(2) of this section will be issued, without 
additional proof of qualification, an appropriate STCW certificate or 
endorsement when the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection determines 
that such an endorsement is necessary to enable the vessel to engage in 
an international voyage. The STCW certificate or endorsement will be 
expressly limited to service on the vessel or the class of vessels and 
will not establish qualification for any other purpose.

[CGD 81-059, 52 FR 38652, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by CGD 95-062, 62 FR 
34538, June 26, 1997; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58343, Sept. 30, 2004]