Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§11503 Duties of consular officers related to insubordination

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part G— - Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter CHAPTER 115— - OFFENSES AND PENALTIES › § 11503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Consular officers must try every way to stop crew members from refusing or disobeying orders on U.S. ships. They can get help from local authorities to do this. When a sailor is accused of disobeying orders, the consular officer must investigate the facts and follow the steps in section 11106. If the officer removes the sailor, they must make the required note on the sailor’s agreement and record the reason and details in the ship’s official logbook.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §11503

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A consular officer shall use every means to discountenance insubordination on vessels of the United States, including employing the aid of local authorities.

(b)When a seaman is accused of insubordination, a consular officer shall inquire into the facts and proceed as provided in section 11106 of this title. If the consular officer discharges the seaman, the officer shall endorse the agreement required by this part and enter in the vessel’s official logbook the cause and particulars of the discharge.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1150346:703 section 11503 delegates to consular officers certain responsibilities related to insubordination of seamen on United States vessels.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 11503

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73