Federal · Title 46 — Shipping
46 U.S.C. § 12131: Command of documented vessels
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Except as provided in subsection (b), a documented vessel may be placed under the command only of a citizen or noncitizen national (as such term is described in section 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1408 )) of the United States. a vessel with only a recreational endorsement; or an unmanned barge operating outside of the territorial waters of the United States.
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