Section 10504 specifies when seamen on coastwise voyages may obtain portions of their wages. The section does not apply to fishing vessels, whaling vessels or yachts, and portions of it do not apply to vessels taking oysters. It does apply to foreign vessels while in United States ports.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–640, § 10(b)(4), struck out last sentence which read as follows: “However, this subsection applies to a vessel taking oysters.”

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 99–640, § 10(b)(5), struck out “(except a vessel taking oysters)” after “vessel”.

1985—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–36 amended subsec. (d) generally, thereby including reference to a vessel engaged in coastwise commerce.

Section 1(b) of Pub. L. 99–36 provided that: “The effective date of subsection (a)(5) of this section [amending this section] is August 26, 1983.”