---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11506"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "11506"
heading: "Carrying sheath knives"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/11506"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 115 — Offenses and Penalties"
---

# §11506. Carrying sheath knives


A [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) in the merchant marine may not wear a sheath knife on board a vessel without the consent of the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1). The [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) of a vessel of the United States shall inform each [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) of this prohibition before engagement. A [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) failing to advise a [seaman](/usc/46/10101.md?p=3) is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $50.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 584.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 11506 | 46:710 |

Section 11506 prohibits a merchant seaman from carrying a sheath knife without permission of the master, and penalizes a master who does not advise a seaman of this provision.