---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10703"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10703"
heading: "Procedures of masters"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10703"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 107 — Effects of Deceased Seamen"
---

# §10703. Procedures of masters

- (a) If the vessel is proceeding to the United States when a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) dies, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall deliver the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s money, property, and wages when the agreement required by this part is ended, as provided in [section 10706 of this title](/usc/46/10706.md).
- (b) If the vessel touches at a foreign port after the death of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall report to the first available consular officer. The consular officer may require the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) to deliver to the officer the money, property, and wages of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3). The consular officer shall give the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) a receipt for the matters delivered and certify on the agreement the particulars of the delivery. When the agreement ends, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall deliver the receipt to a district court of the United States.
- (c) If the consular officer does not require the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) to deliver the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s money, property, and wages, the officer shall so certify on the agreement, and the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall dispose of the money, property, and wages as provided under [section 10706 of this title](/usc/46/10706.md).
- (d) A deduction from the account of a deceased [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is valid only if certified by a proper entry in the official logbook.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 573; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 418, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2438.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10703 | 46:622 |

Section 10703 provides for the disposal by the master of the property and wages of deceased seamen who have died outside the United States.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–206, § 418(1), substituted “in section 10706 of this title” for “by regulations prescribed by the Secretary”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–206, § 418(2), substituted “to a district court of the United States” for “as prescribed by regulations”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–206, § 418(3), substituted “section 10706 of this title” for “subsection (a) of this section”.