Seamen in need of repatriation, whether being repatriated to or from the United States, shall be classified as follows:

(a) Seamen separated from their vessels because of the destruction of, abandonment of, or damage to their vessels, or because of termination of shipping articles at a port outside the continental limits of the United States.

(b) Seamen separated from their vessels as the result of illness or injury received in the service of their vessels or otherwise through no fault of their own.

(c) Seamen separated from their vessels for any cause whatsoever not described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.