---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11507"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "11507"
heading: "Surrender of offending officers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/11507"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part G — Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief"
  - "Chapter 115 — Offenses and Penalties"
---

# §11507. Surrender of offending officers


When an officer of a vessel of the United States (except the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1)) has violated [section 2191 of title 18](/usc/18/2191.md), and the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) has actual knowledge of the offense or if complaint is made within 3 days after reaching port, the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) shall surrender the offending officer to the proper authorities. If the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1) fails to use diligence to comply with this section and the offender escapes, the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), the [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), and the vessel are liable for damages to the individual unlawfully punished.


## Source credit

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

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 11507 | 46:712 |

Section 11507 requires a master of a vessel of the United States to surrender to the proper authorities any officer who has violated section 2191 of title 18 (which provides a penalty for cruelty to seamen by officers), and penalizes the master for noncompliance.