---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11503"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "11503"
heading: "Duties of consular officers related to insubordination"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/11503"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 115 — Offenses and Penalties"
---

# §11503. Duties of consular officers related to insubordination

- (a) A consular officer shall use every means to discountenance insubordination on vessels of the United States, including employing the aid of local authorities.
- (b) When a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is accused of insubordination, a consular officer shall inquire into the facts and proceed as provided in [section 11106 of this title](/usc/46/11106.md). If the consular officer discharges the [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3), the officer shall endorse the agreement required by this part and enter in the vessel’s official logbook the cause and particulars of the discharge.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 583.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 11503 | 46:703 |

Section 11503 delegates to consular officers certain responsibilities related to insubordination of seamen on United States vessels.