46 U.S.C. § 8302
Section 8302 · Staff department
Current version, with additions and removals from the May 15, 1985 version.
(a) This section applies to a vessel of the United States except—
(a) This section applies to a vessel of the United States except—
(1) a fishing or whaling vessel or a yacht;
(1) a fishing or whaling vessel or a yacht;
(2) a vessel operated only on bays, sounds, inland waters, and lakes (except the Great Lakes); and
(2) a vessel operated only on bays, sounds, inland waters, and lakes (except the Great Lakes); and
(3) a vessel ferrying passengers and cars on the Great Lakes.
(3) a vessel ferrying passengers and cars on the Great Lakes.
(b) The staff department on a vessel is a separate and independent department. It consists of individuals registered under section 7101 of this title, clerks, and individuals assigned to the senior registered medical doctor.
(b) The staff department on a vessel is a separate and independent department. It consists of individuals registered under section 7101 of this title, clerks, and individuals assigned to the senior registered medical doctor.
(c) The staff department is composed of a medical division and a purser's division. The officer in charge of each division is responsible only to the master. The senior registered medical doctor is in charge of the medical division. The senior registered purser is in charge of the purser's division.
(c) The staff department is composed of a medical division and a purser's division. The officer in charge of each division is responsible only to the master. The senior registered medical doctor is in charge of the medical division. The senior registered purser is in charge of the purser's division.
(e) A person may not employ an individual to serve in, and an individual may not serve in, a grade of staff officer on a vessel, when that staff officer is required by this section to be registered, if the individual does not have a certificate of registry as staff officer in that grade. A person (including an individual) violating this subsection is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $100. However, if a registered staff officer is not available at the time of sailing, the vessel may sail with an unregistered staff officer or without a staff officer.
(e) A person may not employ an individual to serve in, and an individual may not serve in, a grade of staff officer on a vessel, when that staff officer is required by this section to be registered, if the individual does not have a certificate of registry as staff officer in that grade. A person (including an individual) violating this subsection is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $100. However, if a registered staff officer is not available at the time of sailing, the vessel may sail with an unregistered staff officer or without a staff officer.
(f) A staff officer may not be included in a vessel's certificate of inspection.
(f) A staff officer may not be included in a vessel's certificate of inspection.
(h) The uniform stripes, decoration, or other insignia worn by a staff officer shall be of gold braid or woven gold or silver material. A crewmember (except a staff officer) may not wear any uniform with a staff officer's identifying insignia.
(h) The uniform stripes, decoration, or other insignia worn by a staff officer shall be of gold braid or woven gold or silver material. A crewmember (except a staff officer) may not wear any uniform with a staff officer's identifying insignia.