Seaman Status - A Legal Test for Commercial Mariners (Jones Act Seamen)...
Who Is a Jones Act Seaman...
To qualify as a seaman, the commercial mariner must meet the following requirements: (1.) they must contribute to the function of the vessel or to the accomplishment of its mission, and (2.) they must have a connection to a vessel in navigation (or to an identifiable group of vessels) that is substantial in terms of both its duration and its nature. Chandris v. Latsis 515 U.S. 347, 368 (1995) Case law for seaman status as a Jones Act seaman.
The legal test for "Connection with a Vessel" is not always so straightforward. This is shown by a recent decision involving a welder who was not a traditional member of a vessel crew.