---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10302"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10302"
heading: "Shipping articles agreements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10302"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 103 — Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages"
---

# §10302. Shipping articles agreements

- (a) The [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge shall make a shipping agreement in writing with each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) before the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) commences employment.
- (b) The agreement shall contain the following:
  - (1) the nature, and, as far as practicable, the duration of the intended voyage, and the port or country in which the voyage is to end.
  - (2) the number and description of the crew and the capacity in which each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is to be engaged.
  - (3) the time at which each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is to be on board to begin work.
  - (4) the amount of wages each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is to receive.
  - (5) regulations about conduct on board, and information on fines, short allowance of provisions, and other punishment for misconduct provided by law.
  - (6) a scale of the provisions that are to be provided each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3).
  - (7) any stipulation in reference to advances and allotments of wages.
  - (8) other matters not contrary to law.
- (c) Each shipping agreement must be signed by the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or individual in charge or a representative of the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, or managing operator, and by each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) employed.
- (d) The [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge shall maintain the shipping agreement and make the shipping agreement available to the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 561; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 401, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2435.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10302 | 46:564 |

Section 10302 requires the master to make a shipping agreement with each crew member and lists the information that must be included in the agreement.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–206, § 401(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Before proceeding on a voyage, the master of a vessel to which this chapter applies shall make a shipping articles agreement in writing with each seaman in the crew.”

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 103–206, § 401(2), added subsecs. (c) and (d).