SHIPPING ARTICLES AGREEMENTS.

SEC. 413. SHIPPING ARTICLES AGREEMENTS. Section 10502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: “(a) The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge shall make a shipping agreement in writing with each seaman before the seaman commences employment.”, and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: “(d) Each shipping agreement must be signed by the master or individual in charge or a representative of the owner, charterer, or managing operator, and by each seaman employed. “(e) The owner, charterer, managing operator, master, or individual in charge shall maintain the snipping agreement and make the shipping agreement available to the seaman. “(f) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring shipping companies to maintain records of seamen on matters of engagement, discharge, and service. The shipping companies shall make these records available to the seaman and the Coast Guard on request.”.