46 CFR 14.309: Completing shipping articles at voyage end

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers what must happen to shipping articles at the end of a voyage on which they are required. The master or individual in charge must complete the articles, note and attach Mutual Releases and discharge copies, and pay all wages due. Each mariner must sign the articles when paid off.

Applies toIt applies to the master or individual in charge of a vessel, and to each merchant mariner, at the end of each voyage upon which shipping articles are required.

What it says

  1. At the end of each voyage on which shipping articles are required, the master or individual in charge must complete the articles and make the pertinent entries match those on the certificate of discharge and its copies.

    46 CFR 14.309(a)(1)“Complete the articles, conforming the pertinent entries in them to those on the certificate of discharge and its copies;”

  2. The master or individual in charge must note in the articles the execution of each Mutual Release.

    46 CFR 14.309(a)(2)“Note in the articles the execution of each Mutual Release;”

  3. The master or individual in charge must attach to the articles each Mutual Release and a copy of each certificate of discharge.

    46 CFR 14.309(a)(3)“Attach to the articles each Mutual Release and a copy of each certificate of discharge”

  4. The master or individual in charge must pay each merchant mariner all wages due.

    46 CFR 14.309(a)(4)“Pay to each merchant mariner all wages due.”

  5. Each mariner must sign the articles when paid off.

    46 CFR 14.309(b)“When paid off, each mariner must sign the articles.”

Common questions

Who must complete the shipping articles at the end of a voyage?

The master or individual in charge of the vessel must complete them at the end of each voyage upon which shipping articles are required.

“At the end of each voyage upon which shipping articles are required, the master or individual in charge of the vessel must—”

What must be attached to the shipping articles at the end of a voyage?

The master or individual in charge must attach each Mutual Release and a copy of each certificate of discharge.

“Attach to the articles each Mutual Release and a copy of each certificate of discharge”

Does a mariner have to sign the shipping articles when paid off?

Yes. Each mariner must sign the articles when paid off.

“When paid off, each mariner must sign the articles.”

The text of 46 CFR 14.309

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Entries in shipping articles at end of voyage

(a) At the end of each voyage upon which shipping articles are required, the master or individual in charge of the vessel must—

(1) Complete the articles, conforming the pertinent entries in them to those on the certificate of discharge and its copies;

(2) Note in the articles the execution of each Mutual Release;

(3) Attach to the articles each Mutual Release and a copy of each certificate of discharge ; and

(4) Pay to each merchant mariner all wages due.

(b) When paid off, each mariner must sign the articles.

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.