46 USC § 7511 - Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s7511"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 7511 - Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "7511"
section_name: "Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial"
chapter_number: 75
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND DOCUMENTATION"
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: "(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXVI, § 11602(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4147; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(g)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1756.)"
---


# § 7511. Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial

**(a)** **Sexual Abuse.—** A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part shall be denied to an individual who has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under—

**(1)** chapter 109A of title 18, except for subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18;

**(2)** section 920 or 920b of title 10 (article 120 and 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); or

**(3)** a substantially similar offense under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law.

**(b)** **Abusive Sexual Contact.—** A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who within 5 years before applying for the license, certificate, or document, has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under subsection (b) of section 2244 of title 18, or a substantially similar offense under State, local, or Tribal law.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXVI, § 11602(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4147; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(g)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1756.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(1). , struck out “or” after “title 18;”.

Subsec. (a)(2). , added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

, substituted “Federal, State, local, or Tribal law” for “State, local, or Tribal law”.

Subsec. (a)(3). , redesignated par. (2) as (3).