Ship Driver Maritime Laws and Licensing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which US agency issues merchant mariner credentials and licenses?
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- US Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center (Correct answer)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
Correct answer: US Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center
The US Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC) in Martinsburg, WV issues all merchant mariner credentials, endorsements, and licenses.
Question 2: What is required to operate a vessel for hire carrying more than 6 passengers?
- A recreational boating safety course
- A USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with an appropriate operator endorsement (Correct answer)
- Only a state boating license
- A commercial driver's license (CDL)
Correct answer: A USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with an appropriate operator endorsement
Vessels carrying more than 6 passengers for hire are Uninspected Passenger Vessels (UPV) requiring the operator to hold a USCG MMC with an Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV/6-pack) endorsement or higher.
Question 3: What does the term 'documented vessel' mean under US maritime law?
- A vessel that has passed a USCG safety inspection
- A vessel registered with the USCG instead of a state, typically 5+ net tons used commercially or in coastwise trade (Correct answer)
- Any vessel with an owner's manual on board
- A vessel with a certified electronic chart system
Correct answer: A vessel registered with the USCG instead of a state, typically 5+ net tons used commercially or in coastwise trade
A documented vessel is federally registered with the USCG under the National Vessel Documentation Center, required for vessels of 5+ net tons used commercially or in foreign trade.
Question 4: What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for vessel operators in federal waters?
- 0.10% — same as older DUI standards
- 0.08% — same as automotive DUI standard (Correct answer)
- 0.04% — stricter than automotive
- 0.00% — zero tolerance afloat
Correct answer: 0.08% — same as automotive DUI standard
Under the Boating Under the Influence (BUI) law, the federal BAC limit for vessel operators is 0.08%, the same as the automotive standard, and many states have added stricter enforcement.
Question 5: Which law governs pollution prevention from vessels in US waters?
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) and MARPOL regulations (Correct answer)
- Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
Correct answer: Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) and MARPOL regulations
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and US implementation of MARPOL govern discharge of oil, garbage, and sewage from vessels in US waters.
Question 6: What must a vessel operator do before discharging sewage (treated or untreated) in US waters?
- Notify the nearest marina
- Comply with federal discharge zones — untreated sewage is prohibited within 3 miles and in designated No Discharge Zones (NDZ) (Correct answer)
- Only discharge at night when nobody can observe
- File a sewage discharge report with the USCG
Correct answer: Comply with federal discharge zones — untreated sewage is prohibited within 3 miles and in designated No Discharge Zones (NDZ)
Federal law prohibits discharge of untreated sewage within 3 nautical miles and bans all discharge (even treated) in designated No Discharge Zones (NDZ).
Ship Driver Maritime Laws and Licensing 1
Which US agency issues merchant mariner credentials and licenses?