Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60
§11506 Carrying Sheath Knives
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part G— Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter 115— OFFENSES AND PENALTIES › § 11506
Summary
A crew member on a U.S. merchant ship may not wear a sheath knife on board unless the ship's captain gives permission. The captain must tell each crew member about this rule before they are hired, and if the captain fails to warn them, the captain must pay the U.S. government a $50 fine.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §11506
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A seaman in the merchant marine may not wear a sheath knife on board a vessel without the consent of the master. The master of a vessel of the United States shall inform each seaman of this prohibition before engagement. A master failing to advise a seaman is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $50.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1150646:710 section 11506 prohibits a merchant seaman from carrying a sheath knife without permission of the master, and penalizes a master who does not advise a seaman of this provision.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 11506
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60