Definitions and Descriptions
(CT:CON-1007; 04-19-2024)
(Office of Origin: CA/OCS)
7 FAM 721 definitions/descriptions
(CT:CON-1007; 04-19-2024)
Classification society – a non-governmental organization that establishes safe standards for the strength of the hull and reliability of the machinery of a vessel and may issue certificates on behalf of a government (e.g. American Bureau of Shipping or Det Norske Veritas for the United States).
Crew of a vessel – every person engaged or employed in any capacity in the business of a vessel who has not contributed consideration for carriage and who is paid for on board services. Passengers (see 46 U.S.C. 2101(21)) are not crew. Laborers or other persons hired locally for work aboard ship while the vessel is in port are not crew.
Discharge – dismiss from employment.
Demise charter – a contract between a vessel owner and a charter where the charter takes over the use, operation (including supplying a crew), and navigation of the owner’s vessel. The level of control the demise charter is to the level that it is considered functionally equivalent to ownership, but title doesn’t change.
Foreign vessel – any foreign-owned vessel or any vessel, regardless of ownership, which is documented under the laws of a foreign country. A vessel owned by a United States citizen but registered under a foreign flag is a foreign vessel.
Master – the individual having command of a vessel. The master of a United States documented vessel must be a United States citizen.
Official log book – an official record for information required pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 11301. Consular officers may certify an entry in the official log book concerning an event of which they have personal and positive knowledge.
Owner – the person to whom the vessel belongs.
Passenger vessel – a vessel of at least 100 gross tons authorized to carry more than 12 passengers including at least one passenger for hire (a person providing consideration in return for passage) in addition to the master, crew, or other persons employed or engaged on board a vessel in any capacity connected with the business of the vessel. (See 46 U.S.C. 2101(22)).
Seafarer– an individual (except scientific personnel, a sailing school instructor, or a sailing school student) engaged or employed in any capacity on board a vessel. (See 46 U.S.C. 10101.)
Seafarer of the United States – U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful residents when they are sailing on a United States flag vessel under the authority of United States Coast Guard issued merchant mariner credential.
Ship’s papers – the Certificate of Documentation of a United States flag vessel; if a commercial vessel, a Coast Guard issued Certificate of Inspection, its shipping articles, and its official crew list.
Shipment – the signing of a crew member on board a vessel under shipping articles.
Shipping articles – a written contract of employment entered into by a master of a United States flag vessel and a seafarer employed on the vessel.
Small passenger vessel – a vessel of less than 100 gross tons authorized to carry more than 6 passengers including at least one passenger for hire (a person providing consideration for passage) in addition to the master, crew, or other persons employed or engaged on board a vessel in any capacity connected with the business of the vessel, or a vessel chartered without crew provided and carrying more than 12 passengers. (See 46 U.S.C. 2101(35)).
Straggler – a seafarer who fails to join the ship without the intent to desert.
United States public vessel – any vessel, except a warship, owned or demise chartered and operated by a United States Government Agency and not engaged in commercial service, e.g., some of the vessels in service to the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command. (See 46 U.S.C. 2101(24)).
United States undocumented vessel – any United States vessel, not having and not required to have a certificate of documentation issued under Federal law. (See 46 U.S.C. Chapter 121).
Vessel – for the purpose of statutes and regulations concerning this manual, includes every kind of water craft used as a means of transportation by water except seaplanes or other aircraft.
Vessel of the United States (also known as a United States flag vessel) – a vessel documented or numbered under the laws of the United States or titled under the law of a state. (See 46 U.S.C. 2101 (46)).
7 FAM 722 THROUGH 729 UNASSIGNED