---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 10321"
description: "General penalty"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "103"
chapter_name: "FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES"
section: "10321"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10321"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s10321"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "96d471b4bdd24aff69c35851e74f4e835122d7afeab9cc74df0ac030c5e7c9dc"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "d64cecd67999309f2c301747a51e86d687db32063f8582d5aaef2cae70160989"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 10321 - General penalty

## Text

(a) A person violating any provision of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.

(b) The vessel is liable in rem for any penalty assessed under this section.

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 569; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 412, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2437.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1032146:56746:56846:57146:66146:665 Section 10321 makes a vessel on which a seaman is carried to sea in violation of this chapter or regulation prescribed under this chapter liable in rem to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $200 for each seaman carried in violation.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1993—Pub. L. 103–206 amended heading and text of section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The owner, charterer, managing operator, agent, or master of a vessel on which a seaman is carried in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $200 for each seaman carried in violation. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.”