46 USC § 7109 - Review of criminal records

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7109"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7109 - Review of criminal records"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7109"
section_name: "Review of criminal records"
chapter_number: 71
chapter_name: "LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRY"
part_number: "E"
part_name: "Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 540; Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4102(e)(1), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 510.)"
---


# § 7109. Review of criminal records

The Secretary may review the criminal record of each holder of a license or certificate of registry issued under this part who applies for renewal of that license or certificate of registry.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 540; Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4102(e)(1), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 510.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 7109 | 46:22546:233 |

Section 7109 authorizes the Secretary to renew licenses and certificates of registry for additional 5 year periods.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990— substituted “Review of criminal records” for “Renewal of licenses” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A license issued under this part may be renewed for additional 5-year periods.”

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable to incidents occurring after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Navigation and Navigable Waters.