---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10318"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10318"
heading: "Wages on discharge in foreign ports"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10318"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 103 — Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages"
---

# §10318. Wages on discharge in foreign ports

- (a) When a [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) applies to a consular officer for the discharge of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), the consular officer shall require the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) to pay the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s wages if it appears that the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) has carried out the agreement required by [section 10302 of this title](/usc/46/10302.md) or otherwise is entitled to be discharged. Then the consular officer shall discharge the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3). A consular officer shall require the payment of extra wages only as provided in this section or in [chapter 109](/usc/46/chstII/ptG/ch109.md) of this title.
- (b) When discharging a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), a consular officer who fails to require the payment of the wages due a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) at the time, and of the extra wages due under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, is accountable to the United States Government for the total amount.
- (c) A [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) discharged under this section with the consent of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is entitled to wages up to the time of discharge, but not for any additional period.
- (d) If the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is discharged involuntarily, and it appears that the discharge was not because of neglect of duty, incompetency, or injury incurred on the vessel, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) with employment on a vessel agreed to by the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) or shall provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) with one month’s extra wages.
- (e) Expenses for the maintenance and return of an ill or injured [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) to the United States shall be paid by the Secretary of State. If a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is incapacitated by illness or injury and prompt discharge is necessary, but a personal appearance of the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) before a consular officer is impracticable, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) may provide transportation to the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) to the nearest consular officer for discharge.
- (f) A deduction from wages of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is permitted only if the deduction appears in the account of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) required to be delivered under [section 10310 of this title](/usc/46/10310.md), except for matters arising after delivery of the account, in which case a supplementary account is required. During a voyage, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall record in the official logbook the matters about which deductions are to be made with the amounts of the deductions. The entries shall be made as the matters occur. The [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall produce the official logbook at the time of payment of wages, and also before a competent authority on the hearing of any complaint or question about the payment of wages.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 568.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10318 | 46:682<br>46:683 |

Section 10318 establishes consular officers’ responsibilities in discharging seamen and the seamen’s right to wages when discharged and when incapacitated by illness or injury. It also requires a master to record in the official logbook all matters for which deductions are to be made from seamen’s wages.