46 CFR 14.207: Content and form of shipping articles
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the content and form of shipping articles for U.S. vessels of 100 GRT or more. Articles must identify the voyage and list specified details for each mariner discharged or otherwise terminated during the month. Wages are left blank on coastwise voyages, and electronic software needs National Maritime Center approval.
Applies toEach vessel of the United States of 100 GRT or more on a foreign, intercoastal or coastwise voyage, and shipping companies that prepare the articles.
What it says
Shipping articles for each vessel of the United States of 100 GRT or more on a foreign or intercoastal voyage must comply with 46 U.S.C. 10302, 10303, 10304, and 10305.
46 CFR 14.207(a)(1)“must comply with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 10302, 10303, 10304, and 10305.”
The articles must identify the nature of the voyage and specify at least the name, MMC number, capacity of service, time due onboard to begin work, name and address of the next of kin, and wages due to each merchant mariner discharged or otherwise terminated during the month.
46 CFR 14.207(a)(1)“The articles must identify the nature of the voyage and specify at least the name, MMC number, capacity of service, time due onboard to begin work, name and address of the next of kin, and wages due”
Articles for such a vessel on a coastwise voyage, including a voyage on the Great Lakes, must also comply with 46 U.S.C. 10502.
46 CFR 14.207(a)(2)“upon a coastwise voyage (including a voyage on the Great Lakes) must also comply with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 10502.”
For coastwise voyages, the articles must not specify the wages due to the mariner, and the wages section of the form must be left blank.
46 CFR 14.207(a)(2)“except that they must not specify the wages due to the mariner. The wages section of the form must be left blank for coastwise voyages.”
A shipping company that manually prepares the articles may, upon request, obtain a form from the Coast Guard.
46 CFR 14.207(b)“Any shipping company that manually prepares the articles may, upon request, obtain a form from the Coast Guard.”
A company that electronically prepares the articles may develop its own software or buy it off the shelf, but it must secure approval from the National Maritime Center to use the software.
46 CFR 14.207(c)“it must secure approval to use the software for these purposes from the National Maritime Center at any of the addresses provided in § 14.103 of this part.”
Common questions
Are wages listed on shipping articles for coastwise voyages?
No. For coastwise voyages the articles must not specify the wages due to the mariner, and the wages section of the form must be left blank.
“The wages section of the form must be left blank for coastwise voyages.”
Where can a company get a form for manually prepared shipping articles?
A shipping company that manually prepares the articles may, upon request, obtain a form from the Coast Guard.
“Any shipping company that manually prepares the articles may, upon request, obtain a form from the Coast Guard.”
Do I need approval to use software for electronic shipping articles?
Yes. A company using its own or off-the-shelf software must secure approval from the National Maritime Center at any of the addresses provided in § 14.103 of this part.
“it must secure approval to use the software for these purposes from the National Maritime Center at any of the addresses provided in § 14.103 of this part.”
The text of 46 CFR 14.207
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Content and form of shipping articles
(a)(1) The content and form of shipping articles for each vessel of the United States of 100 GRT or more upon a foreign or intercoastal voyage must comply with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 10302, 10303, 10304, and 10305. The articles must identify the nature of the voyage and specify at least the name, MMC number, capacity of service, time due onboard to begin work, name and address of the next of kin, and wages due to each merchant mariner, either who was discharged or whose services were otherwise terminated during the month.
(2) The content and form of articles for each such vessel upon a coastwise voyage (including a voyage on the Great Lakes) must also comply with the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 10502. The articles must specify at least the matter identified by paragraph (a)(1) of this section, except that they must not specify the wages due to the mariner. The wages section of the form must be left blank for coastwise voyages.
(b) Any shipping company that manually prepares the articles may, upon request, obtain a form from the Coast Guard.
(c) Any company that electronically prepares the articles may develop its own software or buy it off the shelf; but, in either of these cases, it must secure approval to use the software for these purposes from the National Maritime Center at any of the addresses provided in § 14.103 of this part.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.