§ 10509. Penalty for failing to begin voyage

• (a) A seaman who fails to be on board at the time contained in the agreement required by section 10502 of this title , without having given 24 hours’ notice of inability to do so, shall forfeit, for each hour’s lateness, one-half of one day’s pay to be deducted from the seaman’s wages if the lateness is recorded in the official logbook on the date of the violation.
• (b) A seaman who does not report at all or subsequently deserts forfeits all wages.
• (c) This section does not apply to a fishing or whaling vessel or a yacht.