46 CFR 14.213: Shipping articles reports for merchant mariners
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says when the master or individual in charge of a vessel of the United States must send signed shipping articles to the owner, charterer, or managing operator. The timing depends on the voyage: foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise; Great Lakes only; or bays and sounds only. Failure to comply carries a civil penalty of $5,000.
Applies toIt applies to masters or individuals in charge of vessels of the United States on foreign, intercoastal, coastwise, Great Lakes, or bays and sounds service.
What it says
On a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage, excluding a voyage on the Great Lakes, the master or individual in charge must send one copy of signed shipping articles to the owner, charterer, or managing operator at the start of the voyage.
46 CFR 14.213(a)“each master or individual in charge must, at the commencement of the voyage, send one copy of shipping articles, signed by the master and by each merchant mariner, to the owner, charterer, or managing operator”
On those voyages, the master must keep the original throughout the voyage and enter in it all charges made to the crew during the voyage.
46 CFR 14.213(a)“The master must keep the original throughout the voyage and enter in it all charges made to the crew during the voyage.”
On a vessel sailing exclusively on the Great Lakes, the master or individual in charge must send one copy of signed articles at the start of the season or once the vessel is put into service, whichever occurs earlier.
46 CFR 14.213(b)(1)“at the commencement of the season, or once the vessel is put into service, whichever occurs earlier, send one copy of articles, signed by the master and by each mariner”
On a vessel sailing exclusively on the Great Lakes, the master or individual in charge must send signed supplementary particulars of engagement every 60 days, covering each mariner engaged during that period.
46 CFR 14.213(b)(2)“must every 60 days send supplementary particulars of engagement covering each mariner engaged during this period, signed by the master and by each mariner”
On a vessel sailing exclusively on the Great Lakes, the master or individual in charge must send signed articles at the close of the season or once the vessel is withdrawn from service, whichever occurs later.
46 CFR 14.213(b)(3)“at the close of the season, or once the vessel is withdrawn from service, whichever occurs later, send articles, signed by the master and by each mariner”
On a vessel sailing exclusively on bays or sounds, the master or individual in charge must send signed articles to the owner, charterer, or managing operator at least every 60 days.
46 CFR 14.213(c)“each master or individual in charge must, at least every 60 days, send articles, signed by the master and by each mariner”
Any person who fails to comply with this section is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.
46 CFR 14.213(d)“Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.”
Common questions
How often must articles be sent on a bays and sounds vessel?
The master or individual in charge must send signed articles to the owner, charterer, or managing operator at least every 60 days.
“each master or individual in charge must, at least every 60 days, send articles, signed by the master and by each mariner”
What is the penalty for not complying with the shipping articles requirements?
Any person who fails to comply is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.
“Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.”
Who keeps the original shipping articles on a foreign or coastwise voyage?
The master must keep the original throughout the voyage and enter in it all charges made to the crew during the voyage.
“The master must keep the original throughout the voyage and enter in it all charges made to the crew during the voyage.”
The text of 46 CFR 14.213
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Report of shipment of merchant mariner
(a) When a vessel of the United States sails upon a foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise voyage (excluding a voyage on the Great Lakes), each master or individual in charge must, at the commencement of the voyage, send one copy of shipping articles, signed by the master and by each merchant mariner, to the owner, charterer, or managing operator. The master must keep the original throughout the voyage and enter in it all charges made to the crew during the voyage.
(b) When a vessel of the United States sails exclusively on the Great Lakes—
(1) Each master or individual in charge must, at the commencement of the season, or once the vessel is put into service, whichever occurs earlier, send one copy of articles, signed by the master and by each mariner, to the owner, charterer, or managing operator;
(2) The master or individual in charge must every 60 days send supplementary particulars of engagement covering each mariner engaged during this period, signed by the master and by each mariner, to the owner, charterer, or managing operator; and
(3) The master or individual in charge must, at the close of the season, or once the vessel is withdrawn from service, whichever occurs later, send articles, signed by the master and by each mariner, to the owner, charterer, or managing operator.
(c) When a vessel of the United States sales exclusively on bays or sounds, each master or individual in charge must, at least every 60 days, send articles, signed by the master and by each mariner, to the owner, charter, or managing operator.
(d) Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.
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.