Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§10702 Duties of Masters

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › CHAPTER 107 — EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN › § 10702

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a seaman dies at sea, the captain must secure the seaman’s money/property, record an inventory, wages and deductions in the log signed by the captain, chief mate, and an unlicensed crewmember, and obtain a certificate of compliance from a consular officer or court clerk before customs clears a foreign-bound ship.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §10702

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)When a seaman dies during a voyage, the master shall take charge of the seaman’s money and property. An entry shall be made in the official logbook, signed by the master, the chief mate, and an unlicensed crewmember containing an inventory of the money and property and a statement of the wages due the seaman, with the total of the deductions to be made.
(b)On compliance with this chapter, the master shall obtain a written certificate of compliance from the consular officer or court clerk. Clearance may be granted to a foreign-bound vessel only when the certificate is received at the office of customs.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1070246:621 section 10702 requires a master to take charge of the property of a deceased seaman, make note in the official logbook that the property was taken and obtain a certificate of compliance from a shipping commissioner which must be exhibited for port clearance of foreign bound vessels.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–206 substituted “the consular officer or court clerk” for “a shipping commissioner”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 10702

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102