---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10508"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10508"
heading: "General penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10508"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 105 — Coastwise Voyages"
---

# §10508. General penalties

- (a) A [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) who carries a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) on a voyage without first making the agreement required by [section 10502 of this title](/usc/46/10502.md) shall pay to the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) 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](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) was engaged. A [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) who has not signed an agreement is not bound by the applicable regulations, penalties, or forfeitures.
- (b) A [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) engaging a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) 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.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| 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). Pub. L. 103–206 substituted “not more than $5,000” for “$20”.