46 USC § 10508 - General penalties

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s10508"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 10508 - General penalties"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "10508"
section_name: "General penalties"
chapter_number: 105
chapter_name: "COASTWISE 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. 572; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 416, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2438.)"
---


# § 10508. General penalties

**(a)** A master who carries a seaman on a voyage without first making the agreement required by section 10502 of this title shall pay to the seaman the highest wage that was paid for a similar voyage within the 3 months before the time of engagement at the port or place at which the seaman was engaged. A seaman who has not signed an agreement is not bound by the applicable regulations, penalties, or forfeitures.

**(b)** A master engaging a seaman in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 572; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 416, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2438.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 10508 | 46:575 |

Section 10508 provides for a fair wage to be paid to a seaman who was engaged without a shipping agreement, and also exempts the seaman under certain conditions from applicable regulations, penalties or forfeitures. It also provides a penalty for violation of its provisions.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (b).  substituted “not more than $5,000” for “$20”.