---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11109"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "11109"
heading: "Attachment of wages"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/11109"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 111 — Protection and Relief"
---

# §11109. Attachment of wages

- (a) Wages due or accruing to a [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) are not subject to attachment or arrestment from any court, except for an order of a court about the payment by a [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) of any part of the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1)’s or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3)’s wages for the support and maintenance of the spouse or minor children of the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), or both. A payment of wages to a [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) or [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is valid, notwithstanding any prior sale or assignment of wages or any attachment, encumbrance, or arrestment of the wages.
- (b) An assignment or sale of wages or salvage made before the payment of wages does not bind the party making it, except allotments authorized by [section 10315 of this title](/usc/46/10315.md).
- (c) This section applies to an individual employed on a [fishing vessel](/usc/46/10101.md?p=4) or any [fish processing vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=13).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 580; Pub. L. 98–364, title IV, § 402(15), July 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 450.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 11109 | 46:601 |

Section 11109 limits the attachment of a seaman’s wages and establishes certain rules for the assignment of a seaman’s wages. It also applies to fishermen on fishing vessels.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–364 substituted “an individual employed on a fishing vessel or any fish processing vessel” for “a fisherman on a fishing vessel”.