---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 15.530"
title: "46"
number: "15.530"
heading: "Large passenger vessels."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/15.530"
---

# §15.530. Large passenger vessels.

- (a) The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel must ensure that any non-resident alien holding a Coast Guard-issued MMC described in [part 12](/cfr/46/part12.md), [subpart H](/cfr/46/subpartH.md) of this subchapter is provided the rights, protections, and benefits of the International Labor Organization's Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention of 1976.
- (b) On U.S-flagged large passenger vessels, non-resident aliens holding a Coast Guard-issued MMC described in [part 12](/cfr/46/part12.md), [subpart H](/cfr/46/subpartH.md) of this subchapter—
  - (1) May only be employed in the steward's department on the vessel(s) specified on the MMC or accompanying Coast Guard letter under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter;
  - (2) May only be employed for an aggregate period of 36 months of actual service on all authorized U.S.-flagged large passenger vessels combined, under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter;
  - (3) May not perform watchstanding, engine room duty watch, or vessel navigation functions, under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter; and
  - (4) May perform emergency-related duties only if, under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter—
    - (i) The emergency-related duties do not require any other rating or endorsement, except Lifeboat Operator as specified in [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter;
    - (ii) The non-resident alien has completed familiarization and Basic Training, as required in [§ 15.1105](/cfr/46/15.1105.md);
    - (iii) The non-resident alien, if serving as a Lifeboat Operator, has the necessary Lifeboat Operator's endorsement; and
    - (iv) The non-resident alien has completed the training for crewmembers on passenger ships performing duties involving safety or care for passengers, as required in [part 12](/cfr/46/part12.md), [subpart I](/cfr/46/subpartI.md) of this subchapter.
- (c) No more than 25 percent of the total number of ratings on a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel may be aliens, whether admitted to the United States for permanent residence or authorized for employment in the United States as non-resident aliens.
- (d) The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel employing non-resident aliens holding Coast Guard-issued MMCs described in [part 12](/cfr/46/part12.md), [subpart H](/cfr/46/subpartH.md) of this subchapter must—
  - (1) Retain custody of all non-resident alien MMCs for the duration of employment, under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter; and
  - (2) Return all non-resident alien MMCs to the Coast Guard upon termination of employment, under [§ 12.811](/cfr/46/12.811.md) of this subchapter.
- (e) The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel employing non-resident aliens holding Coast Guard-issued MMCs described in [part 12](/cfr/46/part12.md), [subpart H](/cfr/46/subpartH.md) of this subchapter is subject to the civil penalty provisions specified in [46 U.S.C. 8103(f)](/usc/46/8103.md?p=f), for any violation of this section.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 78003, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2018-0874, 84 FR 30882, June 28, 2019]

### Source

Source: Redesignated by USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 78001, Dec. 24, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2101, 2103, 3306, 3703, 8101, 8102, 8103, 8104, 8105, 8301, 8304, 8502, 8503, 8701, 8702, 8901, 8902, 8903, 8904, 8905(b), 8906 and 9102; sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905; and DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 81-059, 52 FR 38652, Oct. 16, 1987, as amended by USCG-2021-0097, 89 FR 93118, Nov. 25, 2024, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2004-17914, 78 FR 78003, Dec. 24, 2013, as amended by USCG-2018-0874, 84 FR 30882, June 28, 2019]