§15103. National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

(a) Establishment.-There is established a National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the "Committee").

(b) Function.-The Committee shall advise the Secretary on matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners.

(c) Membership.-

(1) In general.-The Committee shall consist of 19 members appointed by the Secretary in accordance with this section and section 15109 of this chapter.

(2) Expertise.-Each member of the Committee shall have particular expertise, knowledge, and experience in matters relating to the function of the Committee.

(3) Representation.-Members of the Committee shall be appointed as follows:

(A) 9 members shall represent mariners and, of the 9-

(i) each shall-

(I) be a citizen of the United States; and

(II) hold an active license or certificate issued under chapter 71 of this title or a merchant mariner document issued under chapter 73 of this title;

(ii) 3 shall be deck officers who represent merchant marine deck officers and, of the 3-

(I) 2 shall be licensed for oceans any gross tons;

(II) 1 shall be licensed for inland river route with a limited or unlimited tonnage;

(III) 2 shall have a master's license or a master of towing vessels license;

(IV) 1 shall have significant tanker experience; and

(V) to the extent practicable-

(aa) 1 shall represent labor; and

(bb) 1 shall represent management;

(iii) 3 shall be engineering officers who represent merchant marine engineering officers and, of the 3-

(I) 2 shall be licensed as chief engineer any horsepower;

(II) 1 shall be licensed as either a limited chief engineer or a designated duty engineer; and

(III) to the extent practicable-

(aa) 1 shall represent labor; and

(bb) 1 shall represent management;

(iv) 2 shall be unlicensed seamen who represent merchant marine unlicensed seaman and, of the 2-

(I) 1 shall represent able-bodied seamen; and

(II) 1 shall represent qualified members of the engine department; and

(v) 1 shall be a pilot who represents merchant marine pilots.

(B) 6 members shall represent marine educators and, of the 6-

(i) 3 shall be marine educators who represent maritime academies and, of the 3-

(I) 2 shall represent State maritime academies (and are jointly recommended by such academies); and

(II) 1 shall represent either State maritime academies or the United States Merchant Marine Academy; and

(ii) 3 shall be marine educators who represent other maritime training institutions and, of the 3, 1 shall represent the small vessel industry.

(C) 2 members shall represent shipping companies employed in ship operation management.

(D) 2 members shall represent the general public.

(Added Pub. L. 115–282, title VI, §601(a), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4282 .)