---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 2303a"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "2303a"
heading: "Post serious marine casualty alcohol testing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/2303a"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part A — General Provisions"
  - "Chapter 23 — Operation of Vessels Generally"
---

# §2303a. Post serious marine casualty alcohol testing

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall establish procedures to ensure that after a serious marine casualty occurs, alcohol testing of crew members or other individuals responsible for the operation or other safety-sensitive functions of the vessel or vessels involved in such casualty is conducted no later than 2 hours after the casualty occurs, unless such testing cannot be completed within that time due to safety concerns directly related to the casualty.
- (b) The procedures in [subsection (a)](#a) shall require that if alcohol testing cannot be completed within 2 hours of the occurrence of the casualty, such testing shall be conducted as soon thereafter as the safety concerns in [subsection (a)](#a) have been adequately addressed to permit such testing, except that such testing may not be required more than 8 hours after the casualty occurs.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–383, title III, § 304(d)(1), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3419; amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4751.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “individuals” for “persons”.