46 U.S.C. § 10702 — Duties of masters

(a) When a seaman dies during a voyage, the master must take charge of the seaman’s money and property. An entry must be made in the official logbook, signed by the master, the chief mate, and an unlicensed crewmember containing an inventory of the money and property and a statement of the wages due the seaman, with the total of the deductions to be made. (b) On compliance with this chapter, the master must obtain a written certificate of compliance from the consular officer or court clerk. Clearance may be granted to a foreign-bound vessel only when the certificate is received at the office of customs.