46 USC § 7310 - Able seamen—offshore supply vessels

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7310"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7310 - Able seamen—offshore supply vessels"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7310"
section_name: "Able seamen—offshore supply vessels"
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, § 722, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.)"
---


# § 7310. Able seamen—offshore supply vessels

section 14502 of this titlesection 14302 of this titlesection 14104 of this title

For service on a vessel of less than 500 gross tons as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under  engaged in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources, an individual may be rated as able seaman—offshore supply vessels if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the 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, § 722, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3938.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 7310 | 46:672(b)(3) |

Section 7310 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to serve as able seamen—offshore supply vessels on vessels of less than 500 gross tons engaged in the exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— inserted “as measured under , or an alternate tonnage measured under  as prescribed by the Secretary under ” after “500 gross tons”.