Final answer:
The United States Longshoremen and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act covers individuals engaged in maritime work such as loading or unloading a ship, but does not cover ship's masters, crew members, or individuals involved in non-maritime activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) covers maritime employees who are engaged in maritime work or occupation, specifically those who are involved in the loading, unloading, repairing, or building of a vessel. Therefore, the answer to the question regarding who is covered by the United States Longshoremen and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act is c. Persons who are loading or unloading the ship. This federal law ensures that workers who are injured on the job or contract an occupational disease receive compensation and medical care. The Act covers maritime workers including longshore workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders, harbor construction workers, and other related occupations. It does not cover the captain and crew of the ship (referred to as 'masters or members of a crew of any vessel'), nor does it cover individuals who may be on the ship for non-maritime purposes, such as someone delivering flowers to a departing passenger.