46 USC § 11506 - Carrying sheath knives

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s11506"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 11506 - Carrying sheath knives"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "11506"
section_name: "Carrying sheath knives"
chapter_number: 115
chapter_name: "OFFENSES AND PENALTIES"
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. 584.)"
---


# § 11506. Carrying sheath knives

A seaman in the merchant marine may not wear a sheath knife on board a vessel without the consent of the master. The master of a vessel of the United States shall inform each seaman of this prohibition before engagement. A master failing to advise a seaman is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $50.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 584.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 11506 | 46:710 |

Section 11506 prohibits a merchant seaman from carrying a sheath knife without permission of the master, and penalizes a master who does not advise a seaman of this provision.