46 U.S.C. § 3315 Disclosure of Defects and Protection of Informants

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 46 U.S.C. § 3315

(a) Each individual licensed under part E of this subtitle shall assist in the inspection or examination under this part of the vessel on which the individual is serving, and shall point out defects and imperfections known to the individual in matters subject to regulations and inspection. The individual also shall make known to officials designated to enforce this part, at the earliest opportunity, any marine casualty producing serious injury to the vessel, its equipment, or individuals on the vessel.

(b) An official may not disclose the name of an individual providing information under this section, or the source of the information, to a person except a person authorized by the Secretary. An official violating this subsection is liable to disciplinary action under applicable law.

Cite as 46 U.S.C. § 3315

Source: Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 516.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 7/7/2023

<TABLE> <TR><TD colspan="2">HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>Revised section</TD> <TD>Source section (U.S. Code)</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>3315</TD> <TD>46:234</TD> </TR> </TABLE>

Section 3315 requires an individual holding a license issued by the Coast Guard to assist inspection authorities and to make defects and imperfections known to those authorities. Anyone licensed also has a duty to report any marine casualty producing serious injury to the vessel, its equipment, or individuals on board the vessel. These licensed individuals who have this statutorily imposed duty to disclose are also protected by prohibiting any government official from disclosing the identity or source of the information except as authorized by the Secretary.