46 CFR 14.205: Mariner credentials when signing shipping articles
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers merchant mariners engaged for a voyage that requires shipping articles. Each mariner must provide a merchant mariner credential to the master or individual in charge of the vessel. The credential must carry the endorsements required by law for the service the mariner would perform.
Applies toEach merchant mariner engaged for a voyage upon which shipping articles are required.
What it says
Each merchant mariner engaged for a voyage that requires shipping articles must provide a merchant mariner credential to the master or individual in charge of the vessel.
“each merchant mariner must provide to the master or individual in charge of the vessel a merchant mariner credential”
The merchant mariner credential must have the endorsements required by law for the service the mariner would perform.
“a merchant mariner credential with endorsements required by law for the service the mariner would perform”
Common questions
When must a mariner produce a merchant mariner credential under this section?
A mariner must provide the credential on engagement for a voyage upon which shipping articles are required.
“On engagement for a voyage upon which shipping articles are required, each merchant mariner must provide”
Who receives the credential when a mariner signs shipping articles?
The mariner must provide it to the master or individual in charge of the vessel.
“each merchant mariner must provide to the master or individual in charge of the vessel a merchant mariner credential”
The text of 46 CFR 14.205
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Production of credentials by merchant mariner signing shipping articles
On engagement for a voyage upon which shipping articles are required, each merchant mariner must provide to the master or individual in charge of the vessel a merchant mariner credential with endorsements required by law for the service the mariner would perform.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.