---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10904"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "10904"
heading: "Refusal to proceed"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/10904"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 109 — Proceedings on Unseaworthiness"
---

# §10904. Refusal to proceed


After a judgment under [section 10903 of this title](/usc/46/10903.md) that a vessel is fit to proceed on the intended voyage, or after the order of a judgment to make up deficiencies is complied with, if a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) does not proceed on the voyage, the unpaid wages of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) are forfeited.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 576.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 10904 | 46:655 |

Section 10904 provides that if a vessel is found fit to proceed by a judge or justice of the peace and a seaman refuses to proceed, the seaman shall forfeit any unpaid wages.