Legal Definitions - member of a crew

A member of a crew, often legally referred to as a "seaman," is an individual who works on a vessel or a fleet of vessels, contributing to its operation or mission, while the vessel is "in navigation." This definition typically requires a more or less permanent connection to the vessel or fleet and the performance of duties that facilitate the vessel's function, movement, or purpose. This legal classification is crucial for determining eligibility for specific protections and benefits under maritime law, distinguishing them from land-based workers or those performing temporary, shoreside tasks.

• Example 1: Commercial Fishing Boat Captain

  A captain who commands a commercial trawler, spending months at sea overseeing fishing operations, navigating the vessel, and managing the onboard crew. Their responsibilities include maintaining the ship's logs, ensuring the safety of the crew, and operating specialized fishing equipment.

  Explanation: The captain is a member of the crew because they have a continuous and integral connection to a vessel (the trawler), which is actively "in navigation" (traveling and operating at sea), and their duties are directly essential to the vessel's primary mission of commercial fishing.

• Example 2: Offshore Supply Vessel Cook

  A cook employed on an offshore supply vessel that regularly transports equipment and personnel to oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The cook lives on the vessel for several weeks at a time, preparing meals for the crew and maintaining the galley, ensuring the well-being and sustenance of those working on board.

  Explanation: This cook qualifies as a member of the crew because they are permanently assigned to a vessel (the supply vessel) that is "in navigation" (traveling between port and offshore installations), and their role, though not directly involved in navigation or cargo handling, is vital to the vessel's overall operation and the support of its mission and crew.

• Example 3: Dredge Operator on a River Dredge

  An operator who works on a large dredge vessel, which is used to deepen river channels for navigation. This individual operates the dredging machinery, lives on the vessel during work cycles, and performs routine maintenance on the equipment, all while the dredge is actively working in the waterway.

  Explanation: This operator is a member of the crew because they have a regular and substantial connection to a vessel (the dredge) that is "in navigation" (capable of movement and performing its specialized work on a navigable river), and their duties are fundamental to the vessel's specific purpose of maintaining waterways.