TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
DIVISION 9: LABOR
§ 9161. Offenses Against the Internal Order of the Vessel. (a) Any seaman on a Commonwealth vessel who commits any of the following offenses may, in addition to any criminal penalties provided for in this chapter, be punished by the master as follows: (1) For neglecting or refusing without reasonable cause to join his vessel or to proceed to sea in his vessel, or for absence without leave at any time within 24 hours of the vessel’s sailing from any port, wither at the commencement or during the process of the voyage, or for absence at any time, without leave and without sufficient reason, from his vessel and from his duty, not amounting to desertion, by forfeiture from his wages of not more than two days’ wages or wages sufficient to defray any expenses which may have been properly incurred in hiring a substitute; (2) For quitting the vessel without leave before it is placed in security, by forfeiture from his wages of not more than one month’s wages; (3) For intoxication or willful disobedience to any lawful command, by being placed in restraint until the intoxication or disobedience ceases and by forfeiture from his wages of not more than four days’ wages; (4) For continued intoxication or willful disobedience to any lawful command or continued willful neglect of duty, by being placed in restraint until the intoxication, disobedience or neglect ceases, and by forfeiture, for every 24 hours continuance of such intoxication, disobedience or neglect, of a sum of not more than 12 days’ wages; (5) For willfully damaging the vessel, or embezzling or willfully damaging any part of the stores or cargo, whether on board the vessel, in boats or ashore, by forfeiture out of his wages of a sum equal in amount to the loss thereby sustained; (6) For any act of smuggling, whereby loss or damage is occasioned to the master or shipowner, by payment to the master or shipowner of a sum sufficient to reimburse the master or shipowner for the loss or damage; the whole or any part of his wages may be retained in satisfaction or on account of the liability; (7) For assaulting any master, pilot, or officer, by forfeiture from his wages of not more than three months pay; (8) For mutiny or desertion, by forfeiture of all accrued wages. (b) All earnings forfeited as a result of penalties imposed by the master pursuant to this section shall be applied to reimburse the master or shipowner for any loss or damage resulting from the act for which the forfeiture was imposed, and the balance with an accounting thereof shall thereupon be forwarded to the director. Source: 19 TTC § 222. Commission Comment: With respect to the reference to the “director” of the Department of Commerce and Labor, see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001; see also the comment to 4 CMC § 9212.