22 USC § 4205 - Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t22/s4205"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "22 USC § 4205 - Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages"
title_number: 22
title_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE"
section_number: "4205"
section_name: "Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages"
chapter_number: 52
chapter_name: "FOREIGN SERVICE"
subchapter_number: "XIV"
subchapter_name: "POWERS, DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS GENERALLY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(R.S. § 1718.)"
---


# § 4205. Retention of papers of American vessels until payment of demands and wages

All consular officers are authorized and required to retain in their possession all the papers of vessels of the United States, which shall be deposited with them as directed by law, till payment shall be made of all demands and wages on account of such vessels.

---

**Source Credit**: (R.S. § 1718.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 1718 derived from , .

Section was not enacted as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter.

Section was formerly classified to , and prior thereto to .