Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60
§10906 Discharge of Crew for Unsuitability
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part G— Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter 109— PROCEEDINGS ON UNSEAWORTHINESS › § 10906
Summary
Inspectors at a foreign port must say if a ship was sent out without proper supplies by neglect, on purpose, mistake, or accident. If they find neglect or intent and a U.S. consular officer agrees, the officer must let a seaman who asks leave and make the captain pay either one month’s wages plus wages then due or enough money to return the seaman to the nearest U.S. port, whichever is greater.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §10906
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
When a survey is made at a foreign port, the surveyors shall state in the report whether, in their opinion, the vessel had been sent to sea unsuitably provided in any important particular, by neglect or design or through mistake or accident. If by neglect or design, and the consular officer approves the finding, the officer shall discharge a seaman requesting discharge and shall require the master to pay one month’s wages to that seaman in addition to wages then due, or sufficient money for the return of the seaman to the nearest and most convenient port of the United States, whichever is the greater amount.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1090646:658 section 10906 provides that if a consular officer finds that a vessel has been sent to sea in an unsuitable state, a crew member requesting discharge must be paid one month’s additional wages and passage to the United States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 10906
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60