---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 10508"
description: "General penalties"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "105"
chapter_name: "COASTWISE VOYAGES"
section: "10508"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 10508"
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/s10508"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "0ba23c805fa33812a27546c793c7617fbbb41b0c58085d4e9c5bd9baf413d5f0"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "d5fd8ca2293919c9cc01699b051cdd1493364bff9a684bb05cc7394aafead4cd"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 10508 - General penalties

## Text

(a) A master who carries a seaman on a voyage without first making the agreement required by section 10502 of this title shall pay to the seaman the highest wage that was paid for a similar voyage within the 3 months before the time of engagement at the port or place at which the seaman was engaged. A seaman who has not signed an agreement is not bound by the applicable regulations, penalties, or forfeitures.

(b) A master engaging a seaman in violation 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. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty.

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 572; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 416, Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2438.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1050846:575 Section 10508 provides for a fair wage to be paid to a seaman who was engaged without a shipping agreement, and also exempts the seaman under certain conditions from applicable regulations, penalties or forfeitures. It also provides a penalty for violation of its provisions.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1993—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–206 substituted “not more than $5,000” for “$20”.