46 U.S.C. § 10308 : Shipping — Vessels And Seamen — Foreign And Intercoastal Voyages — Merchant Seamen Protection And Relief — Foreign Engagements

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.

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section	Source section (U.S. Code)
10308	46:570

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.

Amendments

1993—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.”