Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60
§10508 General Penalties
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part G— Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter 105— COASTWISE VOYAGES › § 10508
Summary
A captain who takes a seaman aboard without the required agreement must pay that seaman the highest wage paid for a similar voyage at the port in the 3 months before hiring. A seaman who didn’t sign is not subject to them. The captain may be fined up to $5,000, and the ship can be held liable.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §10508
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A master who carries a seaman on a voyage without first making the agreement required by section 10502 of this title shall pay to the seaman the highest wage that was paid for a similar voyage within the 3 months before the time of engagement at the port or place at which the seaman was engaged. A seaman who has not signed an agreement is not bound by the applicable regulations, penalties, or forfeitures.
(b)A master engaging a seaman in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1050846:575 section 10508 provides for a fair wage to be paid to a seaman who was engaged without a shipping agreement, and also exempts the seaman under certain conditions from applicable
Regulations
, penalties or forfeitures. It also provides a penalty for violation of its provisions.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–206 substituted “not more than $5,000” for “$20”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 10508
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60