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46 U.S.C. § 10308

U.S. CodeFederalPositive Law
Foreign engagements
About This Law
/us/usc/t46/s10308
Title
46 — Shipping
Chapter
STII/PTG/CH103
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

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When a seaman is engaged outside the United States, the agreement required by section 10302 of this title shall be signed in the presence of a consular officer. If a consular officer is not available at the port of engagement, the seaman may be engaged, and the agreement shall be signed in the next port at which a consular officer is available. (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 564; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 406, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2436.) Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1030846:570 Section 10308 requires that shipping agreements made in foreign ports be signed in the presence of a consular officer. The penalty for violation of this section is $100. Editorial Notes Amendments1993—Pub. L. 103–206 struck out “(a)” before “When a seaman” and struck out subsec. (b) which read as follows: “A master engaging a seaman in violation of this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $100. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.”

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