46 USC § 7311 - Able seamen—sail

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7311"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7311 - Able seamen—sail"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7311"
section_name: "Able seamen—sail"
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.)"
---


# § 7311. Able seamen—sail

For service on a sailing school vessel on any waters, an individual may be rated as able seaman—sail if the individual has at least 6 months’ service on deck on sailing school vessels, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail, or equivalent sailing vessels 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.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 7311 | 46:672(b)(4) |

Section 7311 establishes the minimum service requirements for an individual to qualify as able seamen—sail on board sailing vessels.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , see , set out as a note under .