CFR

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. 7101-930 8).

(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 number of officers and rated crew to be carried on board certain vessels, they establish minimum qualifications concerning licenses and MMC endorsements, 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 officers 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).

(g) 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 endorsement on their license or MMC 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 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; USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11260, Mar. 16, 2009]

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