
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC11104]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part G--Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief
 
                   CHAPTER 111--PROTECTION AND RELIEF
 
Sec. 11104. Destitute seamen

    (a) A consular officer shall provide, for a destitute seaman of the 
United States, subsistence and passage to a port of the United States in 
the most reasonable manner, at the expense of the United States 
Government and subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
State. A seaman, if able, shall be required to perform duties on the 
vessel giving the seaman passage, in accordance with the seaman's 
rating.
    (b) A master of a vessel of the United States bound to a port of the 
United States shall take a destitute seaman on board at the request of a 
consular officer and transport the seaman to the United States. A master 
refusing to transport a destitute seaman when requested is liable to the 
United States Government for a civil penalty of $100. The certificate 
signed and sealed by a consular officer is prima facie evidence of 
refusal. A master is not required to carry a destitute seaman if the 
seaman's presence would cause the number of individuals on board to 
exceed the number permitted in the certificate of inspection or if the 
seaman has a contagious disease.
    (c) Compensation for the transportation of destitute seamen to the 
United States who are unable to work shall be agreed on by the master 
and the consular officer, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary 
of State. However, the compensation may be not more than the lowest 
passenger rate of the vessel, or 2 cents a mile, whichever is less.
    (d) When a master of a vessel of the United States takes on board a 
destitute seaman unable to work, from a port or place not having a 
consular officer, for transportation to the United States or to a port 
at which there is a consular officer, the master or owner of the vessel 
shall be compensated reasonably under regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary of State.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 578.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11104(a)..........................  46:678
11104(b)-(d)......................  46:679
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 11104 provides for the return to the United States of 
destitute seamen of the United States at the expense of the United 
States Government.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 10313 of this title.
