---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 51705"
description: "Training for use of force against piracy"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "517"
chapter_name: "OTHER SUPPORT FOR MERCHANT MARINE TRAINING"
section: "51705"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 51705"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s51705"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "f275fd11bfdda361d13458ade563c94ff87f177f3253ce5c4132d37420afc6f6"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "ad129c84a5df2db710c58de6a8042ab54dcc9969c12eeefcf6c8027fdecc3fbb"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 51705 - Training for use of force against piracy

## Text

The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall certify a training curriculum for United States mariners on the use of force against pirates. The curriculum shall include—

(1) information on waters designated as high-risk waters by the Commandant of the Coast Guard;

(2) information on current threats and patterns of attack by pirates;

(3) tactics for defense of a vessel, including instruction on the types, use, and limitations of security equipment;

(4) standard rules for the use of force for self-defense as developed by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating under section 912(c) of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–281; 46 U.S.C. 8107 note), including instruction on firearm safety for crewmembers of vessels carrying cargo under section 55305 of this title; and

(5) procedures to follow to improve crewmember survivability if captured and taken hostage by pirates.

(Added Pub. L. 112–213, title V, § 502(a), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1574.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

DeadlinePub. L. 112–213, title V, § 502(b), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1575, provided that: “The Secretary of Transportation shall certify the curriculum required under the amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2012].”