46 CFR § 10.101 - Purpose.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s10.101"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 10.101 - Purpose."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "10.101"
section_name: "Purpose."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "MERCHANT MARINE OFFICERS AND SEAMEN"
part_number: "10"
part_name: "MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "14 U.S.C. 503; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2101, 2103, 2104, 2110; 46 U.S.C. chapter 71; 46 U.S.C. chapter 73; 46 U.S.C. chapter 75; 46 U.S.C. 7701, 8903, 8904, and 70105; Executive Order 10173; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11216, Mar. 16, 2009, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "10"
---


# 10.101 Purpose.

The regulations in this part provide:

(a) A means of determining and verifying the qualifications an applicant must possess to be eligible for certification to serve on merchant vessels;

(b) A means of determining that an applicant is competent to serve under the authority of their Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC);

(c) A means of confirming that an applicant does not pose a threat to national security through the requirement to hold a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); and

(d) A means of determining whether the applicant for an MMC is a safe and suitable person.

[USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11216, Mar. 16, 2009, as amended by USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 77882, Dec. 24, 2013; USCG-2021-0097, 89 FR 93054, Nov. 25, 2024]