§ 59. Manning of public vessels. 1. All public vessels while under way under their own power, shall be in charge of a licensed master, pilot, engineer, or joint pilot and engineer. Anyone operating a public vessel without a license and any owner who permits the operation of a public vessel by a person who does not possess a valid license or temporary permit, in full force and effect as master, pilot, engineer or joint pilot and engineer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in section seventy-three-b of this article.

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2. It shall be unlawful to operate a public vessel with less than the required crew members as specified in the certificate of inspection or temporary permit. Any person who operates a public vessel, and any owner of a public vessel who permits a person to operate such vessel, in contravention of this requirement, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in section seventy-three-b of this article. In addition, the license of any master, pilot, engineer, or joint pilot and engineer who operates a public vessel in contravention of the crew requirements as contained in the certificate of inspection may be subject to the suspension or revocation of his or her license pursuant to section sixty-four-a of this article.