46 CFR 14.211: Posting copy of shipping articles
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers posting a copy of the shipping articles when shipping articles are required. On commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage, the master or individual in charge must ensure a legible copy is posted where the crew can reach it. The copy must be unsigned by the mariner and must be without the next of kin information.
Applies toIt applies to each master or individual in charge of a vessel on a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage, including a voyage on the Great Lakes, when shipping articles are required.
What it says
On commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage, including a voyage on the Great Lakes, each master or individual in charge of a vessel must ensure the copy is posted when shipping articles are required.
“On commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage (including a voyage on the Great Lakes), each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required must ensure”
The posted copy of the articles must be legible.
“that a legible copy of the articles, unsigned by the mariner, and without the next of kin information, is posted”
The posted copy must be unsigned by the mariner and must be without the next of kin information.
“unsigned by the mariner, and without the next of kin information, is posted at a place accessible to the crew”
The copy must be posted at a place accessible to the crew.
“is posted at a place accessible to the crew.”
Common questions
Who must post the shipping articles?
Each master or individual in charge of a vessel must ensure the copy is posted when shipping articles are required.
“each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required must ensure”
When must a copy of the shipping articles be posted?
The copy must be posted on commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage, including a voyage on the Great Lakes, when shipping articles are required.
“On commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage (including a voyage on the Great Lakes)”
Should the posted shipping articles include next of kin information?
No. The posted copy must be without the next of kin information, and it must be unsigned by the mariner.
“unsigned by the mariner, and without the next of kin information, is posted at a place accessible to the crew”
The text of 46 CFR 14.211
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Posting of copy of shipping articles
On commencement of a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage (including a voyage on the Great Lakes), each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required must ensure that a legible copy of the articles, unsigned by the mariner, and without the next of kin information, is posted at a place accessible to the crew.
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.