46 CFR 15.720: Using non-U.S.-credentialed personnel on U.S. vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lets certain U.S. vessels use non-U.S.-credentialed personnel in limited cases. It covers replacements on foreign voyages and waivers for offshore supply vessels and mobile offshore drilling units. The Master must be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC, and replacements must meet equivalency and communication standards.

Applies toU.S. vessels needing replacement crew on a foreign voyage, U.S.-documented OSVs operating from a foreign port, and U.S.-documented MODUs operating beyond the water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

What it says

  1. A U.S. vessel on a foreign voyage and outside U.S. jurisdiction that must replace persons to meet manning requirements may use non-U.S. credentialed personnel without a TWIC, except as Master and Radio Officer, until it reaches a port where U.S. citizen replacements can be obtained most expeditiously.

    46 CFR 15.720(a)“may use non-U.S. credentialed personnel without a TWIC, except for the positions of Master and Radio Officer”

  2. The citizenship requirements of 46 U.S.C. 8103(a) and (b) and the TWIC requirement of 46 U.S.C. 70105 are waived for certain vessels, except that the Master must be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC.

    46 CFR 15.720(b)“except for the requirement that the Master must be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC”

  3. The waiver covers a U.S.-documented offshore supply vessel (OSV) operating from a foreign port.

    46 CFR 15.720(b)(1)“A U.S.-documented offshore supply vessel (OSV) (as that term is defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101) that is operating from a foreign port”

  4. The waiver covers a U.S.-documented mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) operating beyond the water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

    46 CFR 15.720(b)(2)“is operating beyond the water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf”

  5. The paragraph (b) waiver does not apply to any vessel operating in water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

    46 CFR 15.720(c)“does not apply to any vessel operating in water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf”

  6. The Master must assure that non-U.S. replacements hold a credential requiring equivalent experience, training, and qualifications, and have or will have the training to communicate as § 15.730 requires.

    46 CFR 15.720(d)“holds a credential that required experience, training, and other qualifications equivalent to the U.S. credential required for the position”

  7. Non-U.S.-credentialed officers on vessels subject to STCW must hold a "Certificate attesting recognition" under part 11, subpart J of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 15.720(e)“must hold a “Certificate attesting recognition” in accordance with part 11, subpart J of this subchapter”

  8. A mariner may serve for no more than 3 months while the Coast Guard processes their application for the certificate.

    46 CFR 15.720(e)“A mariner may serve for a period not to exceed 3 months onboard the vessel while the Coast Guard is processing their application for such a certificate.”

Common questions

Can a U.S. vessel use foreign crew without a TWIC on a foreign voyage?

Yes, to replace persons needed to meet manning requirements while outside U.S. jurisdiction, except as Master and Radio Officer. This lasts until the vessel reaches a port where U.S. citizen replacements can be obtained most expeditiously.

“may use non-U.S. credentialed personnel without a TWIC, except for the positions of Master and Radio Officer”

Must the Master of an OSV or MODU be a U.S. citizen?

Yes. The waiver does not cover the requirement that the Master be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC.

“except for the requirement that the Master must be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC”

How long can a foreign officer serve while waiting for a recognition certificate?

A mariner may serve for a period not to exceed 3 months while the Coast Guard processes the application.

“A mariner may serve for a period not to exceed 3 months onboard the vessel while the Coast Guard is processing their application for such a certificate.”

The text of 46 CFR 15.720

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Use of non-U.S.-credentialed personnel

(a) United States vessels which need to replace one or more persons while on a foreign voyage and outside the jurisdiction of the United States, in order to meet manning requirements, may use non-U.S. credentialed personnel without a TWIC, except for the positions of Master and Radio Officer, until the vessel returns to a port at which in the most expeditious manner replacements who are citizens of the United States can be obtained.

(b) The citizenship requirements of 46 U.S.C. 8103(a) and (b) and the TWIC requirement of 46 U.S.C. 70105 are waived, except for the requirement that the Master must be a U.S. citizen holding a TWIC, with respect to the following vessels:

(1) A U.S.-documented offshore supply vessel (OSV) (as that term is defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101) that is operating from a foreign port; and

(2) A U.S.-documented mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) (as that term is defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101) that is operating beyond the water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

(c) The waiver provided in paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to any vessel operating in water above the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (as that term is defined in 43 U.S.C. 1331(a)).

(d) The Master must assure that any replacements of crewmembers by non-U.S. citizens made in accordance with this section will be with an individual who holds a credential that required experience, training, and other qualifications equivalent to the U.S. credential required for the position and that the person possesses or will possess the training required to communicate to the extent required by § 15.730.

(e) Non-U.S.-credentialed officers serving onboard vessels subject to STCW must hold a “Certificate attesting recognition” in accordance with part 11, subpart J of this subchapter. A mariner may serve for a period not to exceed 3 months onboard the vessel while the Coast Guard is processing their application for such a certificate.

Sections it refers to

  • 46 CFR 15.730
  • 46 U.S.C. 8103
  • 46 U.S.C. 70105
  • 46 U.S.C. 2101
  • 43 U.S.C. 1331

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.