46 USC § 7308 - Able seamen—limited

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7308"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7308 - Able seamen—limited"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7308"
section_name: "Able seamen—limited"
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. 104–324, title VII, § 721, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1754.)"
---


# 1 Able seamen—limited

So in original. Probably should be “12 months’ ”.

[^1]section 14502 of this titlesection 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title

The required service for the endorsement of able seaman—limited, qualified for limited service on a vessel on any waters, is at least 12 months  service on deck on board vessels of at least 100 gross tons as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under  operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes).

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 104–324, title VII, § 721, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(d)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1754.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 7308 | 46:672(b)(2) |

Section 7308 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to qualify for an endorsement as able seamen—limited.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—, which directed amendment of this section by substituting “12 months” for “18 months”, was executed by making the amendment for “18 months’ ” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1996— inserted “as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under ” after “100 gross tons”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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

Section to be applied by substituting “12 months” for “18 months” for the 3-year period beginning on , see , set out as a note under .

### 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 .