46 USC § 7307 - Able seamen—unlimited

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7307"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7307 - Able seamen—unlimited"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7307"
section_name: "Able seamen—unlimited"
chapter_number: 73
chapter_name: "MERCHANT MARINERS’ DOCUMENTS"
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. 543; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1753.)"
---


# 1 Able seamen—unlimited

So in original. Probably should be “18 months’ ”.

[^1]

The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—unlimited, qualified for unlimited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 18 months  service on deck on board vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1753.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 7307 | 46:672(b)(1) |

Section 7307 requires individuals to have at least 3 years service on deck on vessels operating at sea or on the Great Lakes before their merchant mariner’s documents can be endorsed as able seamen—unlimited.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “18 months” for “3 years”, was executed by making the substitution for “3 years’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Temporary Reduction of Lengths of Certain Periods of Service

> **“(1)** section 7307 of title 46, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting ‘18 months’ for ‘3 years’;
> 
> **“(2)** section 7308 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘12 months’ for ‘18 months’; and
> 
> **“(3)** section 7309 of such title shall be applied by substituting ‘6 months’ for ‘12 months’.”

, , , provided that:

### Acceptance of Certain Services Toward Endorsement as Able Seaman

Service used to qualify for endorsement as able seaman—fishing industry to be accepted as qualifying service toward an endorsement under this section, see , set out as a note under .