33 CFR §20.904
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)To the extent permitted by law, the ALJ may, for good cause shown in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section, reopen the record of a proceeding to take added evidence.
- (b)Any party may move to reopen the record of a proceeding 30 days or less after the closing of the record.
- (c)The ALJ may reopen the record of a proceeding if he or she believes that any change in fact or law, or that the public interest, warrants reopening it.
- (d)The filing of a motion to reopen the record of a proceeding does not affect any period for appeals specified in subpart J of this part, except that the filing of such a motion tolls the running of whatever time remains in the period for appeals until either the ALJ acts on the motion or the party filing it withdraws it.
- (e)
- (1)At any time, a party may file a petition to reopen with the Docketing Center for the ALJ to rescind any order suspending or revoking a merchant mariner's license, certificate of registry, credential, or endorsement document if—
- (i)The order rests on a conviction—
- (A)For violation of a dangerous-drug law;
- (B)Of an offense that would prevent the issuance or renewal of the license, certificate, credential, or endorsement document; or
- (C)Of an offense described in subparagraph 205(a)(3)(A) or (B) of the National Driver Register Act of 1982 (23 U.S.C. 401, note); and
- (ii)The respondent submits a specific order of court to the effect that the conviction has been unconditionally set aside for all purposes.
- (i)The order rests on a conviction—
- (2)The ALJ, however, may not rescind his or her order on account of any law that provides for a subsequent conditional setting-aside, modification, or expunging of the order of court, by way of granting clemency or other relief after the conviction has become final, without regard to whether punishment was imposed.
- (1)At any time, a party may file a petition to reopen with the Docketing Center for the ALJ to rescind any order suspending or revoking a merchant mariner's license, certificate of registry, credential, or endorsement document if—
- (f)Three years or less after an S&R proceeding has resulted in revocation of a credential, endorsement, license, certificate, or document, the respondent may file a motion for reopening of the proceeding to modify the order of revocation with the ALJ Docketing Center.
- (1)Any motion to reopen the record must clearly state why the basis for the order of revocation is no longer valid and how the issuance of a new merchant mariner credential with appropriate endorsement is compatible with the requirement of good discipline and safety at sea.
- (2)Any party who does not respond to any petition to reopen the record waives any objection to the motion.