46 USC § 10704 - Duties of consular officers
---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s10704"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 10704 - Duties of consular officers"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "10704"
section_name: "Duties of consular officers"
chapter_number: 107
chapter_name: "EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN"
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. 573.)"
---
# § 10704. Duties of consular officers
When a seaman dies outside the United States leaving money or property not on board a vessel, the consular officer nearest the place at which the money and property is located shall claim and take charge of it.
---
**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 573.)
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 10704 | 46:624 |
Section 10704 requires consular officers to take charge of the property (not left on board a vessel) of deceased seamen who have died outside the United States.