Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part G— - Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter CHAPTER 115— - OFFENSES AND PENALTIES › § 11505
Money, property, and wages taken for desertion must first pay the vessel’s owner or master for expenses. Any leftover goes to the proper U.S. district court when the voyage ends. If the court upholds the forfeiture it can sell property and must deposit sale proceeds into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. If the owner or master does not send the remainder, they must pay the United States a civil penalty equal to 2 times that amount. Other forfeited wages go to the vessel owner.
Full Legal Text
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 11505
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73