^5.(^ :ShG 
 
 1^ 
 
 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
 
 DANIEL C. ROPER, Secretary 
 
 BUREAU OF MARINE INSPECTION AND NAVIGATION 
 
 JOSEPH B. WEAVER, Director 
 
 NOTICE TO SHIPOWNERS, SUPERVISING AND 
 
 LOCAL INSPECTORS, SHIPPING COMMISSIONERS 
 
 COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS, MASTERS, AND SEAMEN 
 
 AND 
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ISSUANCE OF THE 
 
 CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY 
 
 AND OF CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE BOOKS 
 
 DECEMBER 26, 1936 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 WASHINGTON : 1936 
 
NOTICE TO SHIPOWNERS, SUPERVISING AND LOCAL INSPECTORS, 
 SHIPPING COMMISSIONERS, COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS, MASTERS, 
 AND SEAMEN; AND RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ISSUANCE OF 
 THE CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY, AND OF CON- 
 TINUOUS DISCHARGE BOOKS 
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 That all interested may have a clear and correct understanding 
 of Public, No. 808, 74th Congress, an act approved June 25, 1936, 
 amending section 13 of the act of March 4, 1915, to promote the wel- 
 fare of American seamen in the merchant marine of the United 
 States; to abolish arrest and imprisonment as a penalty for deser- 
 tion and to secure the abrogation of treaty provisions in relation 
 thereto ; and to promote safety at sea ; to maintain discipline on ship- 
 board ; and for other purposes, the following statement is prepared. 
 
 This act is designed primarily to improve conditions aboard ship 
 and to give protection to the seagoing personnel who may be en- 
 titled to this protection by reason of their years of service, pro- 
 ficiency, and expertness in their profession. Much of the legislation 
 passed heretofore has not given this protection, and, as result, it 
 has been possible for a man without the necessary qualifications to 
 receive the same advantages as the thoroughly qualified man. 
 
 This new law, among other things, establishes: (1) The three- 
 watch system and the 8-hour basic day on merchant vessels of the 
 United States of more than 100 tons gross excepting those navi- 
 gating rivers, harbors, lakes (other than Great Lakes), bays, sounds, 
 bayous, and canals, exclusively; (2) the monthly inspection of crew 
 quarters by the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation; (3) 
 the Americanization of our crews on our vessels, requiring 75 percent 
 of the crew below the grade of licensed officers to be full American 
 citizens ; and (4) the new system of certificates and examinations for 
 all seagoing personnel. 
 
 This law provides for the cancellation of all existing lifeboat- 
 man and able seaman certificates, because it is common knowledge 
 that these certificates are oftentimes sold as well as counterfeited, 
 and consequently are in numerous cases in the possession of those 
 to whom they were not issued. The law provides for a new series 
 of certificates. The section with reference to these certificates be- 
 comes effective December 25, 1936, provided that if it is found 
 impracticable by the Department of Commerce to furnish such 
 certificates upon that date, the Secretary of Conmierce may, in his 
 discretion, extend the effective date for a period not exceeding 3 
 months. This new certificate, which will carry a photograph of the 
 seaman, is of such nature that it will be difficult for anyone improp- 
 erly to present or to possess such a certificate. Incident to the 
 issuance of these new certificates, a more intelligent examination 
 is contemplated, so that the certificate will actually mean what its 
 name implies — a certificate to the efficiency of the holder. 
 
 All men now rightfully holding certificates as lifeboat men and 
 able seamen will be exempt from further examinations if the 
 
 (2) 
 
 115294°— 36 
 
local inspectors are satisfied that the applicants (from the statements 
 submitted by them in their affidavits and application, or other evi- 
 dence) are qualified as lifeboat men or able seamen, as the case may 
 be, and are the rightful holders of the certificates presented for ex- 
 chang;e for the new form certificates. 
 
 This act requires further that every member of the crew below 
 the rank of licensed officer shall be in possession of such certificate 
 of service before being eligible to ship on an American vessel of 100 
 gross tons and over. Such a certificate is also required for the engine 
 room force above the rating of wdper and coal passer; and, by the 
 act of June 22, 1936 (Public 765-49 Stat., p. 1889), for "Tanker- 
 men" — those especially trained in handling dangerous cargoes. For 
 all other members of the crew a certificate of service is required, on 
 which will be endorsed the rating or occupation for which that 
 particular man is qualified. 
 
 Coincident with the issuance of these certificates, there will be fur- 
 nished to every seagoing man below the rank of master, a so-called 
 Continuous Discharge Book, which is merely a Continuous Service 
 Kecord Book, the sole purpose of which is to give a complete record 
 in substantial book form, with a photograph of the holder, of every 
 voyage the holder has made and the position which the holder has 
 had on the voyage in question. The law is plain that no notations 
 are permitted to he made in this hooh in regard to character^ effi- 
 ciency^ or ability of the holder of the hooh. This book contains, in 
 addition to the sea,man's identification, only the record of the voyages 
 that the seaman has made and his -position on these voyages. This 
 book is practically a Government passport, identifying our sea-going 
 citizens. These Continuous Discharge Books will take the place of 
 the numerous discharge slips and provide for: (1) identification of 
 the individual; (2) the ships upon which he has served; (3) the 
 trades in which he has been employed; and (4) the length of such 
 service. The book will contain nothing Avhich could in any manner 
 be construed as detrimental to the individual. There is nothing 
 whatsoever in the book concerning the ability or character of the 
 holder. This record book provides a safeguard against irresponsible 
 elements slipping in through misidentification and taking the jobs 
 of men who follow the sea as a calling, and its use will be a protec- 
 tion and a benefit to all steady, industrious, and ambitious seamen. 
 
 Centralized records will be kept in the Bureau at Washing-ton and 
 any seaman may, upon application, receive his complete record, if for 
 any purpose it is necessary. 
 
 The oath which the seaman takes when he is issued his certificate 
 is the same as that taken by licensed officers, and has been in force 
 for the last 65 years. Furthermore, this certificate cannot be revoked 
 or suspended until after hearings and trial before a proper board 
 have shown such revocation or suspension to be justified m fact, in 
 the sanie manner as in the case of a licensed officer. The use of this 
 oath will work to the benefit of the seaman in the same manner as 
 it has for the officers. 
 
 J. B. Weaver, Director. 
 
 By virtue of the authority prescribed by sections 1 and 7 of the 
 act of June 25, 1936 (Public Law No. 808, 74th Congress, 49 Stat., 
 
4 
 
 p. 1930), the following rules and regulations are prescribed for the 
 carrying out of the provisions of section 1 of the foregoing act of 
 June 25, 1936, amending section 13 of the Seamen's Act of March 4, 
 1915 (38 Stat., p. 1169), and section 3 of the said act amending sec- 
 tion 4551 R. S., relative to the issuance of certificates of service to 
 able seaman, certificates of efiiciency to lifeboat man, certificates of 
 service to qualified member of the engine department, certificates of 
 service to persons other than able seamen and qualified members of 
 the engine department, and continuous discharge books : 
 
 Sec. 1.— GENERAL 
 
 (a) An applicant for any of the above certificates, or for a con- 
 tinuous discharge book shall make written application, in duplicate, 
 on Form 719-b, furnished by the Department of Commerce. The 
 placing of finger or thumb prints on the application shall be optional 
 with the seaman. This application may be for as many certificates 
 or ratings for which the seaman believes he is qualified. In the case 
 of a seaman applying for his first certificate, the application shall 
 include a request for a continuous discharge book. 
 
 (h) An applicant for a certificate of service for a rating other 
 than as able seaman or qualified member of the engine department 
 shall take oath before one of the local inspectors that he will faith- 
 fully and honestly perform all the duties required of him by law and 
 carry out all lawful orders of his superior officers on shipboard. 
 
 (c) Every person employed on any merchant vessel of the United 
 States of 100 tons gross and upward, except those navigating rivers 
 exclusively and the smaller inland lakes, below the rank of licensed 
 officer, shall have a certificate of service issued by a board of local 
 inspectors. 
 
 {d) When the application is submitted for a continuous discharge 
 book and one certificate of service, the seaman shall furnish four (4) 
 unmounted photographs (l%x2 inches) taken within 1 year. The 
 photograph shall show the full face at least 1 inch in height, and 
 shall show the bare head. 
 
 (e) When the application is for a certificate of service only, three 
 (3) such photographs shall be furnished. When additional certifi- 
 cates are requested, one (1) additional photograph is required for 
 each additional certificate. 
 
 (/) The applicant shall produce with his application, discharges 
 or affidavits as documentary evidence of his service, indicating the 
 names of t)-*^. vessels on which he has had service, in what capacity, 
 and on what waters. 
 
 (g) All existing certificates of service as able seaman or certificates 
 of efficiency as lifeboat man shall be surrendered, effective December 
 26, 1936, or at such later date as may be fixed by the Secretary of 
 Commerce, as authorized by the act. 
 
 (7i) All applications for certificates of service or efficiency shall 
 be presented by the applicant in person to a board of local inspectors. 
 
 (i) If the applicant possesses a continuous discharge book, it shall 
 be exhibited to the board. 
 
 (j) Applications in the form hereto attached will be furnished to 
 applicants for certificates of service and efficiency and continuous 
 discharge books. (Form 7l9-b follows:) 
 
Forxa 719-B 
 
 __.„_ Book No. _-._^ 
 
 (Name of seaman) (prjot oaly) 
 
 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
 
 BUREAU OF MARINE INSPECTION AND NAVIGATION 
 
 SHIPPING SECTION 
 
 [ Continuous Discharge Book (D) 
 Application for Seaman's Certificate of Efficiency as Lifeboat Man (D) 
 
 [Certificate of Service as _ (D) 
 
 (Ocean, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, Coastwise, Rivers, and Harbors) 
 (APPLICATION TO BE MADE OUT IN DUPLICATE) 
 
 Number and street 
 
 City or towTi _• 
 
 State, Territory, or D. C. 
 
 To the Director, Bubeatj of Maeine Inspection and Navigation, 
 
 U. S. Local Inspectors or U. S. Shipping Commissioner, 
 (or such designated authority) 
 
 Port of . 
 Sib: 
 
 I hereby , apply for a Seaman's 
 
 Continuous Discharge Book (D) 
 
 CertifiSate of Efficiency as Lifeboat Man (D) 
 
 Certificate of Ser^dce as (Q) 
 
 On the following sheets I have submitted a statement of my previous sea service, birth, nationality, and 
 other data necessary for proper identification, and I hereby certify that said statement is true and correct. 
 
 Applicant's signature _ 
 
 (First, middle, aod lost name iu ruU) 
 
 OATH 
 
 I hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I AviU faithfully and honestly perform all duties required of me 
 by law and carry, out the lawful orders of my superior officers on shipboard. 
 
 Applicant's signature 
 
 (First, middle, and last came lo full) 
 
 Subscribed to before me by the above-named applicant this day of , 19 , 
 
 at county of ^ and State (Territory or District) 
 
 Of _ _ 
 
 (official seal) " (Eigmiture and offldai title or oicer) 
 
 (This oath must be administered by the issuing officer) 
 
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Sec. 2.— CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE BOOKS 
 
 [Sec. 3. act of June 25, 1936, amending Sec. 4551, R. S.] 
 
 (a) Every seaman employed on any merchant vessel of the United 
 States of 100 gross tons or over (except vessels employed exclusively 
 in trade on the navigable rivers of the United States) shall be issued 
 a continuous discharge book upon application therefor, which shall 
 be retained by him. This book will bear a number, and this same 
 number shall be shown on all certificates of service or efficiency issued 
 to the holder of the book. The term "navigable rivers" shall be held 
 to include all waters over which a vessel inspected and certificated 
 under the General Eules and Regulations prescribed by the Board of 
 Supervising Inspectors for "S,ivers" is permitted to be navigated. 
 
 (5) The shipping commissioner or collector or deputy collector of 
 customs, at ports where no shipping commissioner has been appointed, 
 shall fill in the information required in the continuous discharge 
 book, which information shall be taken from the application. Form 
 Y19-B, and shall include the name of the seaman in full, his date of 
 birth, personal description, statement of nationality, home address, 
 and grade and number of licenses or certificates held. He shall also 
 attach the seaman's photograph in the size and style herein required, 
 impressing his official seal partly over same, and witness the seaman's 
 signature. Care must be taken that the above information is cor- 
 rectly entered. 
 
 {c) Every seaman, as referred to in subsection (a) of this section, 
 shall produce a continuous discharge book to the U. S. Shipping 
 Commissioner before signing Articles of Agreement, and where the 
 seamen are not signed on before a shipping commissioner the con- 
 tinuous discharge book shall be produced to the master of the vessel 
 at the time of his employment, as follows : As to vessels engaged in 
 foreign and intercoastal voyages, 6 months after the enactment of 
 the act, and as to all other vessels within 1 year after the enactment 
 of the act. When a seaman has lost his book and has made applica- 
 tion for a duplicate book, he may produce a Temporary Certificate 
 of Discharge, Form 719-A, in lieu thereof. 
 
 {d) Only black ink shall be used in making entries in continuous 
 discharge books. 
 
 Sec. 3.— ABLE SEAMAN 
 
 [Sec. 1 (a) act June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13, act March 4, 1915] 
 
 An applicant for a certificate of service as able seaman shall be at 
 least 19 years of age and meet the following service requirements : 
 
 (a) Three years' service on deck at sea or on the Great Lakes on 
 vessels of 100 gross tons or over to which sec. 1 (a) of the act of June 
 25, 1936, amending sec. 13 of the act of March 4, 1915, applies, includ- 
 ing decked fishing vessels and vessels in the United States Govern- 
 ment service of such tonnage. (Green Certificate — Any Waters.) 
 
 (b) Graduates of school ships approved by and conducted under 
 rules of the Secretary of Commerce who have served 12 months at 
 sea following graduation. (Green Certificate — Any Waters.) 
 
 (g) Twelve months on deck of su.ch vessels at sea or on the Great 
 Lakes (Blue Certificate — Any Waters — holders of certificates under 
 
10 
 
 this provision being limited to one-fourth of the number required by 
 law to be employed on a vessel). 
 
 {d) Eighteen months' service on deck at sea or on the Great Lakes, 
 smaller lakes, bays, or sounds on vessels of 100 gross tons or over to 
 which sec. 1 {a) of the act of June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13 of the 
 act of March 4,. 1915, applies, including decked fishing vessels and 
 vessels in United States Government service of such tonnage. (Blue 
 Certificate — When used on the high seas, holders of certificates under 
 this provision being limited to one-fourth of the number required 
 by law to be employed on a vessel.) 
 
 (e) No candidate for certificate of service as able seaman shall be 
 examined until he presents an official certificate of a physician of 
 the United States Public Health Service that his eyesight, hearing 
 and physical condition are such that he can perform the duties 
 required of an able seaman, and that his color sense is normal. 
 
 (/) Before such a certificate is issued to any applicant, he shall 
 prove to the satisfaction of the board of local inspectors, both by 
 oral examination and by actual demonstration, that he has been 
 trained in all the operations connected with the launching of life- 
 boats and life rafts, and the use of oars; that he is acquainted with 
 the practical handling of the boats themselves ; and, further, that he 
 is cajDable of taking command of a boat's crew. If convenient to 
 board and applicant, written examination may be given in lieu of 
 oral examination. 
 
 {g) The examination shall consist of questions regarding lifeboats 
 and life rafts, the names of their essential parts, and a description 
 of the required equipment; the clearing away, swinging out, and 
 lowering of boats and rafts, the handling of boats under oars, in- 
 cluding questions relative to the proper handling of a boat in run- 
 ning before a heavy sea, in pulling into a sea, etc. ; the construction 
 and functions of gravity, radial, and quaclrantal types of davits. 
 There shall also be included questions concerning the applicant's 
 knowledge of nautical terms; boxing the compass, either by degrees 
 or points according to his experience ; running lights, passing signals, 
 fog signals for vessels on high seas, in inland waters, or on the Great 
 Lakes depending upon the waters on which the applicant has had 
 service; distress signals; knowledge of commands in handling the 
 wheel by obeying orders passed to him as "wheelsman", and knowl- 
 edge of the use of engine room telegraph or bell-pull signals. 
 
 {h) In the actual demonstration, the applicant shall show his 
 ability by taking command of a boat and directing the operation of 
 clearing away, swinging out, lowering the boat into the water, and 
 acting as coxswain in charge of the boat under oars. He shall dem- 
 onstrate his ability to row by actually pulling an oar in the boat. 
 He shall also demonstrate knowledge of a few of the principal 
 knots, bends, splices, and hitches in common use by actually making 
 them. 
 
 {i) All existing certificates of service as able seaman shall be 
 surrendered, efi^ective December 26, 1936, or at such later date as may 
 be fixed by the Secretary of Commerce, as authorized by the act, and 
 the above regulations for the issuance of certificates of service as able 
 seaman, when affecting a person surrendering a bona fide certificate 
 
11 
 
 and applying for a new certificate in lieu thereof, shall be modified 
 in the following respect: 
 
 No physical examination shall be required unless the applicant 
 in the opinion of the local inspectors obviously suffers physical 
 ■defects appearing to render him incapable of performing such 
 duties; and no further examination shall be required if the local 
 inspectors are satisfied — from the statements submitted by him in his 
 affidavit and application, or from other evidence — ^that the applicant 
 is qualified as an able seaman. The local inspectors shall also satisfy 
 themselves that the applicant surrendering the certificate is the bona 
 fide holder thereof before issuing a new certificate. 
 
 Sec. 4.— LIFEBOAT MAN 
 
 [Sec. 1 (d) act June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13, act March 4, 1915] 
 
 (a) An applicant for a certificate of efiiciency as lifeboat man shall 
 have the qualifications and satisfactorily pass the examination pre- 
 scribed by the existing rules and regulations of the Board of Super- 
 vising Inspectors. The certificates shall be issued to successful appli-^ 
 cants by the local inspectors. 
 
 (6) All existing certificates of efficiency as lifeboat man shall be 
 surrendered, effective December 26, 1936, or at such later date as may 
 be fixed by the Secretary of Commerce, as authorized by the act, and 
 a new certificate will be issued in lieu thereof, upon application there- 
 for. No further examination shall be required if the local inspectors 
 are satisfied — from the statements submitted by him in his affidavit 
 and ajDplication, or from other evidence — ^that the applicant is quali- 
 fied as a lifeboat man. The local inspectors shall also satisfy them- 
 selves that the applicant surrendering the certificate is the bona fide 
 holder thereof before issuing a new certificate. 
 
 Sec. 5.— QUALIFIED MEMBER OF THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT 
 
 [Sec. 1 (e) act of June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13, act of March 4, 1915] 
 
 {a) A qualified member of the engine department is any person 
 below the rating of licensed officer and above the rating of coal 
 passer, or wiper, who holds a certificate of service as such qualified 
 member of the engine department issued by a board of local inspec- 
 tors of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. An ap- 
 plicant for a certificate of service as qualified member of the engine 
 department shall have had at least 6 months' service at sea in the 
 engine department of a vessel required to have certificated men and 
 shall produce satisfactory documentary evidence of such service. 
 
 (h) No candidate for a certificate of service as a qualified member 
 of the engine department shall be examined until he presents a cer- 
 tificate of a physician of the United States Public Health Service, 
 or reputable physician acceptable to the local inspectors, attesting 
 that his eyesight, hearing, and physical condition are such that he 
 can perform the duties required of a qualified member of the engine 
 department. 
 
 (c) Before such a certificate is issued to any applicant, he shall prove 
 to the satisfaction of the board of local inspectors by an oral exami- 
 nation that he is trained in the duties required by his certificate. If 
 
12 
 
 convenient to board and applicant, written examination may be 
 given in lieu of oral examination. 
 
 {d) Examinations shall consist of the following: 
 
 Fireman. — Applicant shall be examined on boiler operation, espe- 
 cially on oil burning systems and the hazards due to the accumula- 
 tion of oil in the furnaces or bilges, or on fire room floors and tank 
 tops. He shall have a good working knowledge of the use of water 
 feeding devices, water indicators, pressure gages, safety valves, etc. 
 
 Oiler. — Applicant shall be given an examination on the operation 
 of propelling units and lubricating systems and shall have a knowl- 
 edge of the use of telegraphic or other maneuvering signals, also of 
 the operation of auxiliaries. 
 
 Water tender. — The applicant shall be required to pass an exam- 
 ination on pumps, heaters, injectors, or other methods of feeding; 
 also on burners and other equipment connected with fuel systems. 
 He shall also be examined as to the maintenance of a safe water 
 level in the boilers, the piping and connections used in the feed and 
 blow-off systems, and the hazards incurred from low water. He 
 shall also have a thorough knowledge of the engine and fire room 
 fire-fighting equipment. 
 
 Dech engineer. — The applicant shall be examined as to his knowl- 
 edge of auxiliary machinery, such as winches, anchor windlasses, 
 steering gear, etc., also telemotors and fire extinguishing apparatus 
 for cargo holds and confined spaces on deck. 
 
 Refrigerating engineer. — ^Applicant shall be examined as to his 
 knowledge of the principles of refrigeration, the operation and main- 
 tenance of refrigerating machinery, and the hazards which prevail 
 in the use of certain refrigerants, also as to his knowledge of how 
 to act in any emergency, such as the accidental release of the refrig- 
 erant into the refrigerating space. 
 
 {e) An applicant holding a certificate of service for a particular 
 rating as qualified member of the engine department and desiring 
 certification for another rating covered by this same form of certifi- 
 cate, may, upon qualifying therefor, have endorsement made on 
 the back of his certificate covering such certification. 
 
 (/) Personnel employed in the engine department of vessels cov- 
 ered by sec. 1 {e) of the act of June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13 of rhe 
 act of March 4, 1915, and having the required sea service of 6 
 months on the effective date of these regulations need pass only the 
 oral examination provided herein. No physical examination shall 
 be required unless the applicant, in the opinion of the local inspectors, 
 obviously suffers physical defects appearing to render him incapable 
 of performing such duties. 
 
 Sec. 6.— CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE FOR RATINGS OTHER THAN ABLE 
 SEAMAN OR QUALIFIED MEMBER OF THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT 
 
 [Sec. 1 {g) act June 25, 1936, amending sec. 13 act March 4, 1915] 
 
 {a) Certificates of service shall be issued to applicants for ratings 
 other than able seamen or qualified members of the engine depart- 
 ment, which certificates shall authorize the holders thereof to serve in 
 the capacity specified therein. The applicant, however, shall pro- 
 duce satisfactory evidence to the local inspectors of his ability to 
 
13 
 
 perform the duties of the position for which he desires to be 
 certificated. 
 
 (&) An applicant for a certificate of service as radio operator shall 
 produce to the local inspectors his unexpired license to act in that 
 capacity from the Federal Communications Commission. 
 
 (c) No examination will be required for such certificates of serv- 
 ice except that applicants for ratings contemplating the handling of 
 food, shall produce a certificate from a physician of the U. S. Public 
 Health Service, or reputable physician acceptable to the local inspec- 
 tors, stating that he is free from communicable disease. 
 
 {d) An applicant for a certificate of service as deck boy shall pro- 
 duce a certificate from a physician of the U. S. Public Health Serv- 
 ice, or reputable physician acceptable to the local inspectors, that he 
 is qualified physically. 
 
 {e) No holder of a certificate of service as a deck boy may receive 
 a certificate of service as ordinary seaman until he shall have had an 
 aggregate of 6 months' service as deck boy. 
 
 (/) An applicant holding a certificate of service for a rating other 
 than able seaman, or qualified member of the engine department, and 
 desiring certification for another rating covered by this same form 
 of certificate may have endorsement made on the back of his certifi- 
 cate covering such certification, without examination; except that, 
 if the endorsement is for a rating contemplating the handling of 
 food, the applicant shall produce a certificate from a physician of 
 the IJ. S. Public Health Service, or reputable physician acceptable to 
 the local inspectors, stating that he is free from communicable 
 disease. 
 
 Sec 7.— RULES FOR PREPARATION AND ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF 
 SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY 
 
 {a) Upon application of any person for a certificate of service or 
 efficiency, it shall be the duty of the board of local inspectors to give 
 the applicant the required examination as soon as practicable in every 
 case where an examination is required. 
 
 (&) Upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed examination, 
 the board of local inspectors shall prepare an original of each certifi- 
 cate which shall be delivered to the applicant. The board shall com- 
 plete one stub record to be forwarded to the Bureau in Washington, 
 together with the original copy of the completed application. An- 
 other stub record shall be completed and retained in the local office. 
 
 (<?) Before delivery of the original certificate, the inspectors shall 
 place one of the photographs in the proper position upon the certifi- 
 cate, and the seaman shall affix his signature partly over his photo- 
 graph on the certificate in such manner as not to deface or obscure 
 any of the features, and shall likewise affix his signature to each of 
 the stubs. The seaman may at his option impress his left thumb 
 print on the back of the certificate and upon each of the stubs. 
 When the seaman has no left thumb, the imprint of the right thumb 
 may be used and that fact noted. 
 
 {d) Each certificate shall be impressed with the seal of the issuing 
 board, placed partially over the signature and photograph of the 
 applicant. Each member of the issuing board shall affix his signa- 
 
14 
 
 ture. The name of the issuing port, date of issue, and other perti- 
 nent information required to be shown on the certificate, including 
 the proper discharge book number, shall be properly entered. 
 
 (e) Any applicant for a certificate of service or of efficiency who 
 has been duly examined and refused by a board of local inspectors 
 will not be permitted to make application for reexamination until 30 
 days have elapsed. 
 
 (/) A certificate of service or of efficiency is subject to suspension 
 or revocation if the holder thereof is found guilty of any act of in- 
 competency or misconduct or any act in violation of the provisions of 
 Title 62 of the Eevised Statutes or of any of the regulations issued 
 thereunder. Such suspension or revocation shall be in accordance 
 with the provisions of 4450 R. S., as amended. 
 
 (g) If an applicant has had a certificate revoked and is seeking 
 a new one, the local inspectors shall, before issuing a new certificate, 
 forward to the Bureau a full report with reference thereto. 
 
 (A) Any person whose certificate of service or of efficiency has been 
 stolen, lost, or destroyed, shall report that fact to a board of local 
 inspectors as soon as possible, and if a duplicate certificate is desired, 
 shall make affidavit in duplicate on Form 719-e, furnishing the same 
 number of photographs as provided for in the case of an appli- 
 cation for an original certificate. The board of local inspectors shall 
 forthwith transmit the original copy of the affidavit and two photo- 
 graphs to the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Nav- 
 igation, who shall thereupon cause to be prepared a certificate which 
 shall be similar to the former certificate, bear the same book number 
 as the former certificate, and be marked "duplicate". The certificate 
 shall then be forwarded to the proper board of local inspectors, who 
 shall issue the duplicate certificate in the same manner as an original. 
 
 (i) Whenever a certificate of service or of efficiency is reported to 
 a board of local inspectors as having been stolen, lost, or destroyed, 
 the local inspectors shall immediately report the fact by letter to 
 the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, 
 giving all the facts incident to its loss or destruction. By the same 
 procedure, they shall report the recovery of any certificate of service 
 or of efficiency, together with all facts incident to its recovery, and 
 shall forward the recovered certificate to the Director of the Bureau 
 of Marine Inspection and Navigation. The Bulletin published 
 monthly by the Bureau shall contain information of reported loss, 
 theft, revocation, or suspension of certificates. 
 
 Sec. 8.— RULES AND REGULATIONS COVERING DISCHARGE OF 
 
 SEAMEN 
 
 {a) Upon the discharge of any seaman and payment of his wages, 
 the shipping commissioner, or collector or deputy collector of customs, 
 at ports where no shipping commissioner has been appointed, shall 
 enter in the continuous discharge book the name, class, and official 
 number of the vessel; the nature of the voyage; the date and place 
 of shipment and of discharge of such seaman; and the rating then 
 held by the seaman. Whenever a seaman is discharged in any col- 
 lection district, where no shipping commissioner has been appointed, 
 or other officer designated to act as such, the master of the vessel 
 
15 
 
 shall perform the duties of the shipping commissioner and shall make 
 the proper entries in the continuous discharge book. In cases where 
 the law does not require the seaman to be shipped and discharged 
 before a shipping commissioner, the master of the vessel shall make 
 the required entries in the continuous discharge book. All entries 
 shall be made in black ink. 
 
 (b) Upon the discharge of any seaman in a foreign port the master 
 shall make the proper entries in the continuous discharge book and on 
 the ship's articles, and such entries shall be attested to by the con- 
 sular officer. If the seaman has lost his continuous discharge book, 
 the master shall furnish him with a temporary certificate of discharge 
 (Form 719-a), attested to by the consular officer and note this fact 
 on the articles. 
 
 (c) If a seaman loses his continuous discharge book by shipwreck 
 or other casualty, he will be furnished with a duplicate book free of 
 charge, upon application to a shipping commissioner or collector or 
 deputy collector of customs at ports where no shipping commissioner 
 has been appointed. In other cases of loss, a charge shall be made 
 for a duplicate book in an amount equivalent to the cost thereof. 
 
 (d) The application for such duplicate book shall be made in the 
 form of an affidavit on Form 7l9-e and three (3) photographs fur- 
 nished. The shipping commissioner, or collector or deputy collector 
 of customs, shall transmit the original copy of the affidavit and two 
 (2) photographs to the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection 
 and Navigation, who shall thereupon cause to be prepared a continu- 
 ous discharge book, bearing the same number as the former book, and 
 marked "duplicate." The book shall then be forwarded to the proper 
 shipping commissioner or collector or deputy collector of customs, 
 who shall issue the duplicate book in the same manner as an original. 
 
 (e) Whenever a continuous discharge book is reported to a ship- 
 ping commissioner or collector of customs as having been stolen, lost, 
 or destroyed, the shipping commissioner or collector of customs shall 
 immediately report the fact by letter to the Director of the Bureau 
 of Marine Inspection and Navigation, giving all the facts incident 
 to its loss or destruction. By the same procedure, he shall report 
 the recovery of a continuous discharge book with all the facts inci- 
 dent to its recovery, and shall forward the recovered book to the 
 Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. 
 
 (/) Pending the issuance of a duplicate book, the shipping com- 
 missioner, or collector or deputy collector of customs, at ports where 
 no shipping commissioner has been appointed, may furnish the sea- 
 man with a temporary certificate of discharge (Form 719-A) at 
 the completion of the voyage, and this fact shall be noted on the 
 articles. When the duplicate book has been issued, the record of 
 shipment and discharge as shown on the temporary discharge will 
 be entered in the book, and the temporary discharge shall be sur- 
 rendered to the issuing officer. 
 
 (g) To facilitate the keeping of a complete record of the entries 
 made in the continuous discharge books, the Shipping Articles have 
 been revised to include the following items: On the front of the 
 agreement the following information has been added : Name of ship ; 
 official number; port of registry; date of registry; registered tons; 
 gross and net; horse power of engines; name and address of the 
 
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 16 
 
 registered managing owner or operator; number of seamen and ap- 
 prentices for which accommodations are certified; and class of ship. 
 
 (h) Columns have been added to the articles under "Particulars of 
 engagement" for entering the continuous discharge book number and 
 serial number of license or certificate of service ; and under "Particu- 
 lars of discharge", columns have been added to show the place, date, 
 and cause of leaving ship, or of death, also a column for mutual release. 
 
 (^■) On the back of the Shipping Articles the following have been 
 added : 
 
 A certification to the effect that such entries as are authorized by 
 section 3 of the act of June 25, 1936, to be made in the continuous 
 discharge books agree with those made on the articles, to be signed by 
 the U. S. Shipping Commissioner or other officer duly authorized to 
 act as such. 
 
 A table showing citizenship requirements. 
 
 A recapitulation for showing the percentage of Americans on the 
 articles and a certification as to the correctness of same to be signed 
 by the U. S. Shipping Commissioner or other officer duly authorized 
 to act as such. 
 
 A summary to show the different nationalities of the crew, segre- 
 gated by departments. 
 
 Extracts from the laws for the information of masters. 
 
 {j) In the future, Shipping Articles shall be made out in triplicate. 
 One of the copies shall be retained by the shipping commissioner, and 
 the original and a copy given to the master who shall enter therein 
 any changes made in the crew during the voyage. In case of the pay- 
 ing off of any members of the crew during the voyage, they shall be 
 required to sign the mutual release on both the original and the dupli- 
 cate of the articles whether discharged before a shipping commissioner 
 in an American port or before an American Consul in a foreign port. 
 At the completion of the voyage, when the crew is paid off, the mutual 
 release on both the original and the duplicate of the articles must be 
 signed by all members of the crew ; and the original copy, which must 
 contain a complete record of the entries made in all continuous dis- 
 charge books, shall be forwarded to the Bureau at Washington. The 
 duplicate copy shall be retained by the shipping commissioner. 
 
 [k) All columns on the Shipping Articles shall be properly filled 
 in and the certifications on the back properly signed. All entries made 
 in the continuous discharge books shall be shown on the ship's articles. 
 
 {I) Every seaman shall be required, when signing articles, to pro- 
 duce his continuous discharge book or temporary certificate of dis- 
 charge, as well as his license or certificate of service, in order that the 
 serial numbers may be entered on the articles. 
 
 The foregoing supersedes any rules and regulations heretofore issued 
 conflicting herewith. 
 
 Approved December 22, 1936. 
 
 Daniel C. Roper, 
 Secretary of Commerce. 
 
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