Section 10313 provides that a seaman’s entitlement to wages begins when the seaman begins work, or as specified in the shipping agreement. This section also qualifies a seaman’s entitlement to wages if the vessel is lost or wrecked, if the seaman is discharged improperly, or if the seaman unlawfully failed to work or was imprisoned. It also establishes procedures for the payment of wages at each port the vessel loads or unloads cargo, and at the end of the voyage. This section applies to seamen on foreign vessels in United States harbors, but not to fishing vessels, whaling vessels or yachts.

2010—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111–281 designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “(1) Subject to paragraph (2), when” for “When”, and added pars. (2) and (3).

1986—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 99–640 struck out last sentence which read as follows: “However, this subsection applies to a vessel taking oysters.”

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 99–640 struck out last sentence which read as follows: “However, subsections (f) and (g) apply to a vessel taking oysters.”