---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10704"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10704"
heading: "Duties of consular officers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10704"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 107 — Effects of Deceased Seamen"
---

# §10704. Duties of consular officers


When a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) dies outside the United States leaving money or property not on board a vessel, the consular officer nearest the place at which the money and property is located shall claim and take charge of it.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 573.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10704 | 46:624 |

Section 10704 requires consular officers to take charge of the property (not left on board a vessel) of deceased seamen who have died outside the United States.