Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73

§11507 Surrender of offending officers

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part G— - Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter CHAPTER 115— - OFFENSES AND PENALTIES › § 11507

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If an officer (not the captain) on a U.S. ship breaks section 2191 of title 18, and the captain actually knows about it or a complaint is filed within three days after the ship reaches port, the captain must hand that officer over to the proper authorities. If the captain fails to make a real effort and the offender escapes, the ship owner, the captain, and the ship must pay damages to the person who was punished unlawfully.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §11507

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

When an officer of a vessel of the United States (except the master) has violated section 2191 of title 18, and the master has actual knowledge of the offense or if complaint is made within 3 days after reaching port, the master shall surrender the offending officer to the proper authorities. If the master fails to use diligence to comply with this section and the offender escapes, the owner, the master, and the vessel are liable for damages to the individual unlawfully punished.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1150746:712 section 11507 requires a master of a vessel of the United States to surrender to the proper authorities any officer who has violated section 2191 of title 18 (which provides a penalty for cruelty to seamen by officers), and penalizes the master for noncompliance.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 11507

Title 46 — Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73