WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 46, Shipping › Chapter 81

46 U.S.C. 8103: Citizenship and Navy Reserve requirements

Created in 1983 by Public Law 98-89. Changed by 14 later laws. 1 bill in this Congress would change it.

This Congress

  • H.R. 3151 SHIPS for America Act of 2025 · introduced · would change (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (i), (k), (l)

How it got here

2021

  • Pub. L. 116–283 substituted "merchant mariner's document" for "merchant mariners document" wherever appearing. Law text · (k)

2020

  • Pub. L. 116–260 substituted "Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation" for "Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation". Law text · (g)

2016

  • Pub. L. 114–120, §306(a)(6), substituted "Academy; and" for "Academy." Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 114–120, §313(d), struck out "or operating" before "differential subsidy". Law text · (c), (d)

2008

  • Pub. L. 110–181 inserted "and section 252 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1282)" after "limitations of such section". Law text · (k)

2006

  • Pub. L. 109–163, §515(f)(3)(B), substituted "Navy Reserve" for "Naval Reserve" in section catchline. Law text
  • Pub. L. 109–304 substituted "Except as otherwise provided in this title, only" for "Only". Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 109–163, §515(f)(3)(A), substituted "Navy Reserve" for "Naval Reserve". Law text · (g)
  • Pub. L. 109–241 added subsec. (j). Law text · (j)
  • Pub. L. 109–364 added subsec. (k). Law text · (k)

2004

  • Pub. L. 108–293 amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "each unlicensed seaman must be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; and". Law text · (b)

1996

  • Pub. L. 104–208 substituted "Magnuson-Stevens Fishery" for "Magnuson Fishery". Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 104–324, §727, inserted "as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title" after "1,600 gross tons". Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 104–324, §1123, added subpar. (D). Law text · (i)
  • Pub. L. 104–208 substituted "Magnuson-Stevens Fishery" for "Magnuson Fishery". Law text · (i)

1990

  • Pub. L. 101–595, §§603(6) and 711, amended subpar. (C) identically, substituting "Nationality" for "Naturalization". · (i)

1988

  • Pub. L. 100–239, §5(a)(1), inserted "radio officer," after "chief engineer,". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 100–255 substituted "section," for "subsection," in par. (3). · (b)
  • Pub. L. 100–239, §5(a)(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: "On each departure of a documented vessel (except a fishing or whaling vessel or yacht) from a port of the United States, 75 percent of the seamen (excluding licensed individuals) must be citi… · (b)
  • Pub. L. 100–239, §5(b), struck out "from the United States" after "On each departure". · (c), (d)
  • Pub. L. 100–239, §5(c), inserted "and the radio officer" after "the master" and substituted "until the vessel's return to a port at which in the most expeditious manner" for "until the vessel's first return to a United States port at which". · (e)
  • Pub. L. 100–239, §5(d)(1), added subsec. (i). · (i)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.