The Coast Guard, in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on 8 July 1988, proposed a mandatory drug testing (urinalysis) program for merchant seamen. Covered under the proposal are not only those required to be licensed or possess a merchant seaman's document, but the entire crew of those vessels where such license or document is required even though the crew themselves is not required to have those seaman's papers.
Thus all crew members employed, including those self employed, on tugs over 26 feet in length, uninspected passenger vessels and fishing vessels over 200 gross tons would fall under the testing program.
The scheme of testing includes random testing, pre-employment testing by employers, testing after serious marine accidents and testing incident to various license or merchant mariners document transactions.
A free copy of the NPRM may be obtained from the Executive Secretary of the Marine Safety Council (G-LRA-2/21), U. S. Coast Guard, Washington, DC 20593-0001. Call (202) 267-1477 for further information.
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