
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC10305]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part G--Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief
 
              CHAPTER 103--FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES
 
Sec. 10305. Manner of signing agreement

    The agreement required by section 10302 of this title shall be 
signed--
        (1) first by the master and dated at that time, after which each 
    seaman shall sign; and
        (2) in the presence of the master or individual in charge.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 563; Pub. L. 103-206, title IV, 
Sec. 403, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2436.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10305.............................  46:565
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 10305 describes the procedures for signing the shipping 
agreement, and for keeping official records of the agreement. It also 
requires that the agreement include a statement that the seaman 
understand its provisions, and did so while sober.


                               Amendments

    1993--Pub. L. 103-206 struck out ``(a)'' before ``The agreement'', 
substituted ``the master or individual in charge'' for ``a shipping 
commissioner'' in par. (2), and struck out subsecs. (b) and (c) which 
read as follows:
    ``(b) When the crew is first engaged, the agreement shall be signed 
in duplicate. One of the copies shall be retained by the shipping 
commissioner. The other copy shall contain space for the description and 
signatures of seamen engaged subsequent to the first making of the 
agreement, and shall be delivered to the master.
    ``(c) An agreement signed before a shipping commissioner shall be 
acknowledged and signed by the commissioner on the agreement in the 
manner and form prescribed by regulation. The acknowledgment and 
certification shall include a statement by the commissioner that the 
seaman--
        ``(1) has read the agreement;
        ``(2) is acquainted with and understands its conditions; and
        ``(3) has signed it freely and voluntarily when sober.''
