---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 7511"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "7511"
heading: "Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/7511"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part E — Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents"
  - "Chapter 75 — General Procedures for Licensing, Certification, and Documentation"
---

# §7511. Convicted sex offender as grounds for denial

- (a) **Sexual Abuse.—** A [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2), [certificate of registry](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1), or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part shall be denied to an individual who has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under—
  - (1) [chapter 109A](/usc/18/chptI/ch109A.md) of title 18, except for subsection (b) of [section 2244 of title 18](/usc/18/2244.md);
  - (2) section [920](/usc/10/920.md) or [920b](/usc/10/920b.md) of title 10 (article 120 and 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); or
  - (3) a substantially similar offense under Federal, State, local, or Tribal law.
- (b) **Abusive Sexual Contact.—** A [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2), [certificate of registry](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-1), or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who within 5 years before applying for the [license](/usc/46/12101.md?p=b-2), certificate, or document, has been convicted of a sexual offense prohibited under subsection (b) of [section 2244 of title 18](/usc/18/2244.md), or a substantially similar offense under State, local, or Tribal law.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXVI, § 11602(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4147; amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7301(g)(3), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1756.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(A), struck out “or” after “title 18;”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(D), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(B), substituted “Federal, State, local, or Tribal law” for “State, local, or Tribal law”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 7301(g)(3)(C), redesignated par. (2) as (3).