46 USC § 10308 - Foreign engagements

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s10308"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 10308 - Foreign engagements"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "10308"
section_name: "Foreign engagements"
chapter_number: 103
chapter_name: "FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES"
part_number: "G"
part_name: "Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 564; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 406, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2436.)"
---


# § 10308. Foreign engagements

section 10302 of this title

When a seaman is engaged outside the United States, the agreement required by  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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 564; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 406, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2436.)

| 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.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993— 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.”