---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10603"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10603"
heading: "Seaman’s duty to notify employer regarding illness, disability, and injury"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10603"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 106 — Fishing Voyages"
---

# §10603. Seaman’s duty to notify employer regarding illness, disability, and injury

- (a) A [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) on a [fishing vessel](/usc/46/10101.md?p=4), [fish processing vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=13), or [fish tender vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=14) shall notify the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or individual in charge of the vessel or other agent of the employer regarding any illness, disability, or injury suffered by the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) when in service to the vessel not later than seven days after the date on which the illness, disability, or injury arose.
- (b) The [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) shall prescribe regulations requiring that each [fishing vessel](/usc/46/10101.md?p=4), [fish processing vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=13), and [fish tender vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=14) shall have on board a placard displayed in a prominent location accessible to the crew describing the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s duty under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–424, § 6(a), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1592.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10603 | New |