---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 1986.101"
title: "29"
number: "1986.101"
heading: "Definitions."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/1986.101"
---

# §1986.101. Definitions.


As used in this part:

- (a) Act means the Seaman's Protection Act (SPA), [46 U.S.C. 2114](/usc/46/2114.md), as amended.
- (b) Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health or the person or persons to whom he or she delegates authority under the Act.
- (c) Business days means days other than Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
- (d) Citizen of the United States means an individual who is a national of the United States as defined in [section 101(a)(22)](/cfr/29/101.md?p=a-22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ([8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(22)](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-22)); a corporation incorporated under the laws of the United States or a State; a corporation, partnership, association, or other business entity if the controlling interest is owned by citizens of the United States or whose principal place of business or base of operations is in a State; or a governmental entity of the Federal Government of the United States, of a State, or of a political subdivision of a State. The controlling interest in a corporation is owned by citizens of the United States if a majority of the stockholders are citizens of the United States.
- (e) Complainant means the seaman who filed a SPA whistleblower complaint or on whose behalf a complaint was filed.
- (f) Cooperated means any assistance or participation with an investigation, at any stage of the investigation, and regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
- (g) **Maritime safety law or regulation—** includes any statute or regulation regarding health or safety that applies to any person or equipment on a vessel.
- (h) **Notify—** or notified includes any oral or written communications.
- (i) OSHA means the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor.
- (j) Person means one or more individuals or other entities, including but not limited to corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies.
- (k) **Report—** or reported means any oral or written communications.
- (l) Respondent means the person alleged to have violated [46 U.S.C. 2114](/usc/46/2114.md).
- (m) Seaman means any individual engaged or employed in any capacity on board a U.S.-flag vessel or any other vessel owned by a citizen of the United States, except members of the Armed Forces. The term includes an individual formerly performing the work described above or an applicant for such work.
- (n) Secretary means the Secretary of Labor or persons to whom authority under the Act has been delegated.
- (o) State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- (p) Vessel means every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.
- (q) **Vessel owner—** includes all of the agents of the owner, including the vessel's master.
- (r) Any future amendments to SPA that affect the definition of a term or terms listed in this section will apply in lieu of the definition stated herein.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2114; 49 U.S.C. 31105; Secretary's Order 1-2012 (Jan. 18, 2012), 77 FR 3912 (Jan. 25, 2012); Secretary's Order 01-2020, 85 FR 13186 (March 6, 2020).

### Source

Source: 81 FR 63409, Sept. 15, 2016, unless otherwise noted.