---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11105"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "11105"
heading: "Wages on discharge when vessel sold"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/11105"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 111 — Protection and Relief"
---

# §11105. Wages on discharge when vessel sold

- (a) When a vessel of the United States is sold in a foreign country, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall deliver to the consular officer a certified crew list and the agreement required by this part. The [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall pay each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) the wages due the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) and provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) with employment on board another vessel of the United States bound for the port of original engagement of the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) or to another port agreed on. If employment cannot be provided, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) with the means to return to the port of original engagement;
  - (2) provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) passage to the port of original engagement; or
  - (3) deposit with the consular officer an amount of money considered sufficient by the officer to provide the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) with maintenance and passage home.
- (b) The consular officer shall endorse on the agreement the particulars of the payment, provision, or deposit made under this section.
- (c) An [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) of a vessel is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $500 if the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) does not comply with this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 579.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 11105 | 46:684 |

Section 11105 provides that when a United States vessel is sold in a foreign port, the seamen must be provided employment on another vessel, or passage to the port of original shipment.