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46 U.S.C. 10306: Exhibiting merchant mariners’ documentsText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 46-SHIPPINGCHAPTER 103-FOREIGN AND INTERCOASTAL VOYAGES
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§10306. Exhibiting merchant mariners’ documents

Before signing the agreement required by section 10302 of this title, each individual required by section 8701 of this title to have a merchant mariner’s document shall exhibit to the master or individual in charge a document issued to the individual, appropriately endorsed for the capacity in which the individual is to serve.

( Pub. L. 98–89 , Aug. 26, 1983 , 97 Stat. 564 ; Pub. L. 103–206, title IV, § 404 , Dec. 20, 1993 , 107 Stat. 2436 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source section (U.S. Code)

10306

46:643(c)

Section 10306 requires a seaman to exhibit an appropriately endorsed merchant mariner’s document to the shipping commissioner before signing a shipping agreement. When a master acts as a shipping commissioner, the same procedure applies.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1993⁠—Pub. L. 103–206 substituted “master or individual in charge” for “shipping commissioner”.