5 U.S.C. § 5348
Section 5348 · Crews of vessels
Amended 5 times on record
Applied in 22 court decisions — leading case Department of the Navy Military Sealift Command v. Federal Labor Relations Authority (1988)
Most recently applied in 120 Fed. Cl. 791 - Federal Education Association, Inc. v. United States (April 2015)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Except as provided by subsection (c), the pay of officers and members of crews of vessels excepted from chapter 51 of this title by section 5102(c)(8) of this title shall be fixed and adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates and practices in the maritime industry, not to exceed the rate of pay for the Vice President under section 104 of title 3.
The aggregate pay limitation prescribed under section 5307 shall not apply to an employee whose pay is fixed under subsection (a).
Vessel employees in an area where inadequate maritime industry practice exists and vessel employees of the Corps of Engineers shall have their pay fixed and adjusted under the provisions of this subchapter other than this section, as appropriate.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1104(1), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (b) of this section” and inserted “, not to exceed the rate of pay for the Vice President under section 104 of title 3” before period at end.
Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1104(2), (3), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–201, § 3548(a)(3)(C)(iii), substituted “subsection (b)” for “subsections (b) and (c)”.
Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104–201, § 3548(a)(3)(C)(i), (ii), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “Vessel employees of the Panama Canal Commission may be paid in accordance with the wage practices of the maritime industry.”
1979—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–70 substituted “Commission” for “Company”.
1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–392 inserted reference to subsection (c) of this section.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–392 added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–70 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3601 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 92–392 effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Aug. 19, 1972, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 92–392, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5341 of this title.
Limitation on Pay Adjustments
For provisions limiting the adjustment of salary or basic pay of employees covered by this section, see provisions set out as notes under section 5343 of this title.