NVIC 01-86: Shipment and discharge of seamen guidelines

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This Coast Guard circular sets out procedures for the shipment and discharge of seamen aboard U.S. flag vessels. It cancels NVIC 8-79 and provides enclosed guidelines for masters. The guidelines themselves are an enclosure that is not included in this text.

Applies toThe guidelines are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels required by law to sign on and discharge crews.

What it says

  1. The purpose of this circular is to establish procedures for the shipment and discharge of seamen aboard U.S. flag vessels.

    “To establish procedures for the shipment and discharge of seamen aboard U.S. flag”

  2. After 1979, masters of merchant vessels assumed the duties for the shipment and discharge of seamen, because the Department of Transportation Appropriation Bill prohibited the use of funds for shipping commissioners.

    “prohibited the use of funds for shipping commissioners, and there-after, masters of merchant vessels assumed the”

  3. NVIC 8-79 is canceled after the effective date of this circular.

    NVIC 01-86 a“NVIC 8-79 is canceled after the effective date of this circular.”

  4. The enclosed guidelines are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels required by law to sign on and discharge crews.

    NVIC 01-86 b“The enclosed guidelines are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels”

Common questions

What does NVIC 1-86 cancel?

It cancels NVIC 8-79 after the effective date of this circular.

“NVIC 8-79 is canceled after the effective date of this circular.”

Who are the NVIC 1-86 guidelines for?

They are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels required by law to sign on and discharge crews.

“The enclosed guidelines are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels”

Why did the Coast Guard replace NVIC 8-79?

The recodification of Title 46, United States Code and a multitude of procedural changes made NVIC 8-79 outdated.

“The recodification of Title 46, United States Code and a multitude of procedural”

The text of NVIC 01-86

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 01-86 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Shipment and Discharge of Seamen

U.S. Department U.S. Coast Guard (G-MVP) of Transportation Washington, D.C. 20593 Phone: (202) 426-2240 United States Coast Guard NVIC 1-86 15 Jan 1986 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 1-86 Subj: Shipment and Discharge of Seamen

Shipment and Discharge of Seamen — PURPOSE. To establish procedures for the shipment and discharge of seamen aboard U.S. flag

vessels.

Shipment and Discharge of Seamen — BACKGROUND. In 1979, the Department of Transportation Appropriation Bill prohibited the

use of funds for shipping commissioners, and there-after, masters of merchant vessels assumed the duties for the shipment and discharge of seamen. NVIC 8-79 was published to give masters guide- lines for these new duties; however, changes in the law and policies have necessitated that NVIC 8- 79 be canceled and further guidelines provided.

Shipment and Discharge of Seamen — DISCUSSION. The recodification of Title 46, United States Code and a multitude of procedural

changes have made NVIC 8-79 outdated. In keeping with the Coast Guard's responsibility to enforce laws pertaining to seamen Protection and Relief, these new guidelines are necessitated.

Shipment and Discharge of Seamen — ACTION. The following action is taken:

a. NVIC 8-79 is canceled after the effective date of this circular. b. The enclosed guidelines are provided for use by all masters aboard U.S. flag vessels required by law to sign on and discharge crews. End: (1) Guidelines for Shipment and Discharge of Seamen NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: C:e Baltimore (45); Alameda (40); Port Arthur, Honolulu, Puget Sound (35); Miami, Mobile, Long Beach (25); Norfolk, Jacksonville, Portland OR (20); Boston, Portland ME, Charleston, Anchorage (15); Cleveland (12); Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Paducah, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Savannah, San Juan, Tampa, Galveston, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Milwaukee, San Diego, Juneau, Valdez (10); Providence, Huntington, Wilmington, Corpus Christi, Toledo (5). C:m New Orleans (140); New York (70); Philadelphia (35); Houston (25); St. Ignace (5); Sturgeon Bay (4). D:l CG Liaison Officer MILSEALIFTCOMD M-65 STRAT MOB, CG Liaison Officer JUSMAGPHIL (1).

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. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.