46 CFR §15.530

1. (a)The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel must ensure that any non-resident alien holding a Coast Guard-issued MMC described in part 12, subpart H of this subchapter is provided the rights, protections, and benefits of the International Labor Organization's Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention of 1976.
2. (b)On U.S-flagged large passenger vessels, non-resident aliens holding a Coast Guard-issued MMC described in part 12, subpart H of this subchapter—
   1. (1)May only be employed in the steward's department on the vessel(s) specified on the MMC or accompanying Coast Guard letter under § 12.811 of this subchapter;
   2. (2)May only be employed for an aggregate period of 36 months of actual service on all authorized U.S.-flagged large passenger vessels combined, under § 12.811 of this subchapter;
   3. (3)May not perform watchstanding, engine room duty watch, or vessel navigation functions, under § 12.811 of this subchapter; and
   4. (4)May perform emergency-related duties only if, under § 12.811 of this subchapter—
      1. (i)The emergency-related duties do not require any other rating or endorsement, except Lifeboat Operator as specified in § 12.811 of this subchapter;
      2. (ii)The non-resident alien has completed familiarization and Basic Training, as required in § 15.1105;
      3. (iii)The non-resident alien, if serving as a Lifeboat Operator, has the necessary Lifeboat Operator's endorsement; and
      4. (iv)The non-resident alien has completed the training for crewmembers on passenger ships performing duties involving safety or care for passengers, as required in part 12, subpart I of this subchapter.
3. (c)No more than 25 percent of the total number of ratings on a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel may be aliens, whether admitted to the United States for permanent residence or authorized for employment in the United States as non-resident aliens.
4. (d)The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel employing non-resident aliens holding Coast Guard-issued MMCs described in part 12, subpart H of this subchapter must—
   1. (1)Retain custody of all non-resident alien MMCs for the duration of employment, under § 12.811 of this subchapter; and
   2. (2)Return all non-resident alien MMCs to the Coast Guard upon termination of employment, under § 12.811 of this subchapter.
5. (e)The owner or operator of a U.S.-flagged large passenger vessel employing non-resident aliens holding Coast Guard-issued MMCs described in part 12, subpart H of this subchapter is subject to the civil penalty provisions specified in 46 U.S.C. 8103(f), for any violation of this section.