(a) In general

The Under Secretary may prescribe regulations relating to shore leave for professional mariners without regard to the requirements of section 6305 of title 5.

(b) Requirements

Terms Used In 33 USC 3079b

  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See 1 USC 8
  • vessel: includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water. See 1 USC 3

The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall—

(1) require that a professional mariner serving aboard an ocean-going vessel be granted a leave of absence of 4 days per pay period; and

(2) provide that a professional mariner serving in a temporary promotion position aboard a vessel may be paid the difference between such mariner’s temporary and permanent rates of pay for leave accrued while serving in the temporary promotion position.

(c) Professional mariner defined

In this section, the term “professional mariner” means an individual employed on a vessel of the Administration who has the necessary expertise to serve in the engineering, deck, steward, electronic technician, or survey department.