46 CFR 14.301: Paying off mariners after shipping articles voyages
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers paying off a merchant mariner during or after a voyage on which shipping articles are required. The master or individual in charge must complete and sign the articles, and the mariner must sign them. Once both sign, the articles release the parties from their duties.
Applies toIt applies to each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required, and to each merchant mariner paid off during or after such a voyage.
What it says
Each master or individual in charge of a vessel must complete and sign the shipping articles when shipping articles are required.
“Each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required must complete and sign”
Each merchant mariner paid off during or after such a voyage must sign the articles and otherwise comply with the requirements of this subpart.
“each merchant mariner paid off during or after such a voyage must sign the articles and otherwise comply with the requirements of this subpart”
When the master or individual in charge and the mariner have signed, the articles constitute a release from the duties to which they bound their parties.
“When signed by the master or individual in charge and by the mariner, the articles constitute a release from the duties to which they bound their parties.”
Common questions
Who must sign the shipping articles when a mariner is paid off?
The master or individual in charge must complete and sign them, and the paid-off merchant mariner must sign them.
“each merchant mariner paid off during or after such a voyage must sign the articles and otherwise comply with the requirements of this subpart”
What happens once shipping articles are signed at pay off?
When the master or individual in charge and the mariner have both signed, the articles constitute a release from the duties to which they bound their parties.
“When signed by the master or individual in charge and by the mariner, the articles constitute a release from the duties to which they bound their parties.”
The text of 46 CFR 14.301
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Paying off of merchant mariner during or after voyage upon which shipping articles are required
Each master or individual in charge of a vessel when shipping articles are required must complete and sign, and each merchant mariner paid off during or after such a voyage must sign the articles and otherwise comply with the requirements of this subpart. When signed by the master or individual in charge and by the mariner, the articles constitute a release from the duties to which they bound their parties.
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.