---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 7109"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "7109"
heading: "Review of criminal records"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/7109"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part E — Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents"
  - "Chapter 71 — Licenses and Certificates of Registry"
---

# §7109. Review of criminal records


The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may review the criminal record of each holder of a [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2) or [certificate of registry](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1) issued under this part who applies for renewal of that [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2) or [certificate of registry](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 540; Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4102(e)(1), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 510.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 7109 | 46:225<br>46:233 |

Section 7109 authorizes the Secretary to renew licenses and certificates of registry for additional 5 year periods.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Pub. L. 101–380 substituted “Review of criminal records” for “Renewal of licenses” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A license issued under this part may be renewed for additional 5-year periods.”

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.