Section 7106 sets a 5 year time limit on the validity of a license. It also requires a licensed radio officer to be in continuous possession of an FCC license.

2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–282 substituted “license, whichever” for “merchant mariner’s document, whichever”.

2010—Pub. L. 111–281 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A license issued under this part is valid for 5 years and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods. However, the validity of a license issued to a radio officer is conditioned on the continuous possession by the holder of a first-class or second-class radiotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission.”

1990—Pub. L. 101–380 inserted “and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods” after “for 5 years”.

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4102(d), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 510, provided that: “A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document issued before the date of the enactment of this section [Aug. 18, 1990] terminates on the day it would have expired if—