---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51906"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "51906"
heading: "Special certificates for civilian service to armed forces"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/51906"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part B — Merchant Marine Service"
  - "Chapter 519 — Merchant Marine Awards"
---

# §51906. Special certificates for civilian service to armed forces

- (a) **General Authority.—** The Maritime [Administrator](/usc/46/53701.md?p=2) may issue a special certificate to an individual, or the personal representative of an individual, in recognition of service of that individual in the merchant marine of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10), if the service has been determined to be active duty under section 401 of the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95–202; [38 U.S.C. 106](/usc/38/106.md) note).
- (b) **Relationship to Other Laws.—** Issuance of a certificate under [subsection (a)](#a) does not entitle an individual to any rights, privileges, or benefits under a law of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(b), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1585.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 51906 | 46 App.:2006. | Pub. L. 100–324, § 7, May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 577. |