---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 7501"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "7501"
heading: "Duplicates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/7501"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part E — Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents"
  - "Chapter 75 — General Procedures for Licensing, Certification, and Documentation"
---

# §7501. Duplicates

- (a) If a [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2), [certificate of registry](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1), or merchant mariner’s document issued under this part is lost as a result of a marine casualty, the holder shall be supplied with a duplicate without cost.
- (b) For any other loss, the holder may obtain a duplicate on payment of reasonable costs prescribed by regulation by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 545; Pub. L. 99–36, § 1(a)(9)(C), May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8505(b)(5), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4751.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 7501 | 46:643(h) |

Section 7501(a) provides that if a license, certificate or document issued to an individual is lost due to a marine casualty, the individual will be supplied with a duplicate without cost.

Subsection (b) provides that if a license, certificate or document is lost for any reason other than a marine casualty, the seaman must pay a reasonable cost for the replacement.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “holder” for “seaman”.

1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–36 substituted “certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document” for “certificate, or document”.