46 CFR 14.407: Reports and records for oceanographic research vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets record and report duties for the owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of each oceanographic research vessel of 100 GRT or more, and for each oceanographic company. The person who maintains the record of each merchant mariner's employment, discharge, or termination of service must transmit it to the Coast Guard at least every 6 months. Each oceanographic company must keep original articles and copies of certificates of discharge for 3 years.
Applies toIt applies to the owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of each oceanographic research vessel of 100 GRT or more, and to each oceanographic company.
What it says
The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of each oceanographic research vessel of 100 GRT or more must maintain a record of the employment, discharge, or termination of service of every merchant mariner in the crew.
46 CFR 14.407(a)“must maintain a record of the employment, discharge, or termination of service of every merchant mariner in the crew.”
The person maintaining this record shall transmit it to the Coast Guard at least every 6 months, either manually as a copy of a certificate of discharge or electronically in a manner specified in § 14.103 of this part.
46 CFR 14.407(a)“At least every 6 months, the person maintaining this record shall transmit it to the Coast Guard”
The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of the vessel must keep original shipping articles and a copy of each certificate of discharge ready for review by the Coast Guard or the concerned mariner upon request.
46 CFR 14.407(b)“must keep original shipping articles and a copy of each certificate of discharge ready for review by the Coast Guard or the concerned mariner upon request.”
The master or individual in charge of the vessel must ensure that every entry in the articles agrees with the corresponding entry in a continuous discharge book, on a certificate of discharge, or in any other proof of sea service furnished to the mariner.
46 CFR 14.407(c)“must ensure that every entry made in the articles agrees with the corresponding entry made in a continuous discharge book, on a certificate of discharge, or in any other proof of sea service furnished to the mariner.”
Each oceanographic company must keep all original articles and copies of all certificates of discharge for 3 years.
46 CFR 14.407(d)“Each oceanographic company must keep all original articles and copies of all certificates of discharge for 3 years.”
After 3 years, the oceanographic company must prepare the original shipping articles in alphabetical order by vessel name and send them to the address in § 14.103(a) of this part for storage at the Federal Records Center at Suitland, Maryland.
46 CFR 14.407(d)“After 3 years the company must prepare the original shipping articles in alphabetical order by vessel name and send to the address in § 14.103(a) of this part for storage at the Federal Records Center at Suitland, Maryland.”
Each oceanographic company that goes out of business or merges with another company must send all original articles to the address in § 14.103(a) within 30 days of the transaction.
46 CFR 14.407(e)“Each oceanographic company that goes out of business or merges with another company must send all original articles to the address in § 14.103(a) within 30 days of the transaction.”
Common questions
How often must oceanographic vessel crew records go to the Coast Guard?
The person maintaining the record must transmit it to the Coast Guard at least every 6 months. It may go manually as a copy of a certificate of discharge, or electronically in a manner specified in § 14.103 of this part.
“At least every 6 months, the person maintaining this record shall transmit it to the Coast Guard”
How long must an oceanographic company keep shipping articles?
Each oceanographic company must keep all original articles and copies of all certificates of discharge for 3 years. After 3 years it must prepare and send the original articles for storage as paragraph (d) describes.
“Each oceanographic company must keep all original articles and copies of all certificates of discharge for 3 years.”
What happens to shipping articles if an oceanographic company merges or closes?
The company must send all original articles to the address in § 14.103(a) within 30 days of the transaction.
“Each oceanographic company that goes out of business or merges with another company must send all original articles to the address in § 14.103(a) within 30 days of the transaction.”
Does the Coast Guard keep original articles or certificates of discharge?
No. The Coast Guard will no longer keep original articles or copies of certificates of discharge. It will keep only electronic records of employment.
“The Coast Guard will no longer keep either original articles or copies of certificates of discharge; it will keep only electronic records of employment.”
The text of 46 CFR 14.407
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Reports
(a) The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of each oceanographic research vessel of 100 GRT or more must maintain a record of the employment, discharge, or termination of service of every merchant mariner in the crew. At least every 6 months, the person maintaining this record shall transmit it to the Coast Guard, either manually, in the form of a copy of a certificate of discharge, or electronically in a manner specified in § 14.103 of this part.
(b) The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge of the vessel must keep original shipping articles and a copy of each certificate of discharge ready for review by the Coast Guard or the concerned mariner upon request. The Coast Guard will no longer keep either original articles or copies of certificates of discharge; it will keep only electronic records of employment.
(c) The master or individual in charge of the vessel must ensure that every entry made in the articles agrees with the corresponding entry made in a continuous discharge book, on a certificate of discharge, or in any other proof of sea service furnished to the mariner.
(d) Each oceanographic company must keep all original articles and copies of all certificates of discharge for 3 years. After 3 years the company must prepare the original shipping articles in alphabetical order by vessel name and send to the address in § 14.103(a) of this part for storage at the Federal Records Center at Suitland, Maryland. The company may dispose of the copies of certificates of discharge. The Coast Guard will dispose of copies of certificates submitted manually, once the information is entered into its sea-service database and is validated.
(e) Each oceanographic company that goes out of business or merges with another company must send all original articles to the address in § 14.103(a) within 30 days of the transaction.
(f) Articles sent for storage to the address in § 14.103(a) of this part that are not prepared in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section may be returned to the company for correction.
Sections it refers to
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.