Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) for the purposes of part 5 means the officer or individual so designated at one of the Regional Examination Centers, or any person so designated by the Commandant.

An investigating officer is a Coast Guard official designated by the Commandant, a District Commander, or the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, for the purpose of conducting investigations of marine casualties or matters pertaining to the conduct of persons applying for or holding merchant mariner's documents, licenses, certificates or credentials issued by the Coast Guard. An Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection is an investigating officer without further designation.

(a) An Administrative Law Judge shall mean any person designated by the Commandant pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 556(b) for the purpose of conducting hearings arising under 46 U.S.C. 7703 or 7704.

(b) The Commandant has delegated to Administrative Law Judges the authority to admonish, suspend, with or without probation, or revoke a credential or endorsement issued to a person by the Coast Guard under any navigation or shipping law.

Misconduct is human behavior which violates some formal, duly established rule. Such rules are found in, among other places, statutes, regulations, the common law, the general maritime law, a ship's regulation or order, or shipping articles and similar sources. It is an act which is forbidden or a failure to do that which is required.

Negligence is the commission of an act which a reasonable and prudent person of the same station, under the same circumstances, would not commit, or the failure to perform an act which a reasonable and prudent person of the same station, under the same circumstances, would not fail to perform.

Incompetence is the inability on the part of a person to perform required duties, whether due to professional deficiencies, physical disability, mental incapacity, or any combination thereof.

Where the proceeding is based exclusively on that part of title 46 U.S.C. section 7703, which provides as a basis for suspension or revocation, a violation or failure to comply with 46 U.S.C. subtitle II, a regulation prescribed under that subtitle, or any other law or regulation intended to promote marine safety or protect navigable waters, the complaint must state the specific statute or regulation by title and section number, and the particular manner in which it was allegedly violated.

Where the proceeding is based exclusively on the provisions of title 46, U.S.C. 7704, the complaint will allege conviction for a dangerous drug law violation or use of dangerous drugs or addiction to the use of dangerous drugs, depending upon the circumstances and will allege jurisdiction by stating the elements as required by title 46, U.S.C. 7704, and the approximate time and place of the offense.

Credential means any or all of the following:

(1) Merchant mariner's document.

(2) Merchant mariner's license.

(3) STCW endorsement.

(4) Certificate of registry.

(5) Merchant mariner credential.

Merchant mariner credential or MMC means the credential issued by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR part 10. It combines the individual merchant mariner's document, license, and certificate of registry enumerated in 46 U.S.C. subtitle II part E as well as the STCW endorsement into a single credential that serves as the mariner's qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service.