§10703 Procedures of masters

Summary

If a seaman dies while the ship is going to the United States, the ship’s captain must give the seaman’s money, belongings, and pay when the seaman’s employment agreement ends, under section 10706. If the ship calls at a foreign port after the death, the captain must report to the first consular officer there. The consular officer can require the captain to hand over the money, belongings, and pay, must give a receipt, and must note the delivery on the agreement; that receipt must be given to a U.S. district court when the agreement ends. If the officer does not require delivery, the officer will note that on the agreement and the captain will handle the estate under section 10706. Any deduction from the deceased seaman’s account is valid only if it is properly entered in the ship’s official logbook.