1625-0113 Stat/Authority

33 CFR Part 160 Subpart D (up to date as of 10/22/2024)
Crewmember Identification

33 CFR Part 160 Subpart D (Oct. 22, 2024)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 33 —Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter I —Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Subchapter P —Ports and Waterways Safety
Part 160 —Ports and Waterways Safety—General
Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70001-70003, 70034, and Chapter 701; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.2. Subpart C is also
issued under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 3715 and 46 U.S.C. 70011.
Source: CGD 79-026, 48 FR 35404, Aug. 4, 1983, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart D Crewmember Identification
§ 160.300 Applicability.
§ 160.305 Exceptions.
§ 160.310 Definitions.
§ 160.315 Crewmember identification requirement.
§ 160.320 Sanctions and vessel control.
Subpart D—Crewmember Identification
Source: USCG-2007-28648, 74 FR 19140, Apr. 28, 2009, unless otherwise noted.

§ 160.300 Applicability.
(a) This subpart applies to crewmembers on the following vessels in the navigable waters of the United
States en route to a U.S. port or place of destination or at a U.S. port or place:
(1) A foreign vessel engaged in commercial service, and
(2) A U.S. vessel engaged in commercial service and coming from a foreign port or place of departure.
(b) This subpart also applies to the operators of the vessels listed in paragraph (a) of this section.

§ 160.305 Exceptions.
Requirements in this subpart do not apply to crewmembers and operators on a vessel bound for a U.S. port or place
of destination under force majeure.

§ 160.310 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, and only for purposes of this supbpart—
Acceptable identification means a:
(1) Passport;
(2) U.S. Permanent Resident Card;
(3) U.S. merchant mariner document;
33 CFR 160.310 “Acceptable identification” (3) (enhanced display)

page 1 of 2

33 CFR Part 160 Subpart D (up to date as of 10/22/2024)
Crewmember Identification

33 CFR 160.310 “Acceptable identification” (4)

(4) U.S. merchant mariner credential;
(5) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the Transportation Security
Administration under 49 CFR part 1572; or
(6) Seafarer's Identification Document (SID) issued by or under the authority of the government of a
country that has ratified the International Labour Organization Seafarers' Identity Documents
Convention (Revised), 2003 (ILO 185), meeting all the requirements of ILO 185.
Commercial service means any type of trade or business involving the transportation of goods or individuals,
except service performed by a combatant vessel.
Crewmember means all persons carried onboard a vessel to provide: navigation services; maintenance of the
vessel, its machinery, or systems; arrangements essential for propulsion or safe navigation; or services
for other persons onboard.
Foreign vessel means a vessel of foreign registry or operated under the authority of a country except the United
States.
Navigable waters of the United States means the same as this term is defined in 33 CFR 2.36(a). This includes a
12-nautical-mile wide U.S. territorial sea as measured from the baseline, U.S. internal waters subject to
tidal influence, and certain U.S. internal waters not subject to tidal influence.
Operator means any person including, but not limited to, an owner, a charterer, or another contractor who
conducts, or is responsible for, the operation of a vessel.
Passport means any travel document issued by competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and
nationality if any, which is valid for the admission of the bearer into a foreign country.
Port or place of departure means any port or place in which a vessel is anchored or moored.
Port or place of destination means any port or place in which a vessel is bound to anchor or moor.

§ 160.315 Crewmember identification requirement.
(a) A crewmember subject to this subpart must carry and present on demand an acceptable identification. An
operator subject to this subpart must ensure that every crewmember on the vessel has an acceptable
identification in his or her possession when the vessel is in the navigable waters of the United States. For
purposes of this section, a crewmember may secure his or her acceptable identification with the vessel's
master, so long as the identification can be presented on demand.
(b) Compliance with the requirements in this section does not relieve vessel crewmembers and operators of
any requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) or INA implementing regulations.
Likewise, compliance with INA requirements does not relieve vessel crewmembers and operators of the
requirements in this section.

§ 160.320 Sanctions and vessel control.
Failure to comply with this subpart will subject the crewmember and operator to a civil penalty under 46 U.S.C.
70119 and the vessel to control under 46 U.S.C. 70002.
[USCG-2007-28648, 74 FR 19140, Apr. 28, 2009, as amended by USCG-2020-0304, 85 FR 58280, Sept. 18, 2020]

33 CFR 160.320 (enhanced display)

page 2 of 2