Matter of Yacht Caribbean Star (Board decision, May 12, 1961)

Plain-English summary

The owners of a British charter vessel faced a $500 fine after its mate received earned wages and an advance, then traveled to Nassau for papers needed for promotion to master. He intended to return to the vessel after repairs, but hurricane damage delayed its return to service. The Board found no affirmative act ending his employment: payment, vacation, and his temporary departure did not discharge him. It sustained the owners' appeal and canceled the fine.

Decision snapshot

• Cited authorities: Immigration and Nationality Act § 256 (8 U.S.C. § 1286); United States v. Seaboard Surety Company.
• Outcome: Vessel owners' appeal sustained; $500 fine not imposed.
• Key point: Temporary absence and payment of wages did not establish termination of the crewman's service.

Full text (BIA official public release)

MATTER OF YACHT CARIBBEAN STAR

In FINE Proceedings

MIA-10/61.235

Decided by Board May 12, 1961

Fine—Payoff and/or discharge of alien crewman without permission—Temporary departure from United States without termination of services and with intention of returning to vessel.

Liability to fine for paying off and/or discharging an alien crewman is not incurred where the crewman who has been paid earned wages plus a $50 advance temporarily leaves the United States for Nassau to obtain papers necessary for his promotion to master of the vessel; his delay in rejoining the vessel has resulted from circumstances beyond the control of any of the parties concerned; and it is still intended that he will rejoin the vessel, when repairs are completed, as its master.

BASIS FOR FINE: Act of 1952—Section 256 (8 U.S.C. 1286).

BEFORE THE BOARD

DISCUSSION: This appeal is directed to an administrative penalty of $500 ($1,000 mitigated to the extent of $500), which the District Director at Miami has ordered imposed on Edwin P. LeMay and Associates as owners and/or agents of the above-named vessel which arrived at the port of Miami, Florida, from foreign on September 1, 1960. The specific violation charged is the paying off and/or discharging of the alien crewman, G—W—A—, without prior permission from the Attorney General or his duly designated representatives. The appeal will be sustained.

The vessel involved is a charter boat of British registry which, at the time of its last arrival (supra), was returning a charter party to the United States. This crewman, who was then its mate, was granted a D-1 conditional landing permit. Under the terms thereof, he was required to depart from the United States on the vessel's next foreign sailing; in no event was he to remain in this country in excess of 29 days; and he could not be paid off or discharged without prior permission from immigration officers, acting for the Attorney General.

It had apparently been decided, prior to the vessel's arrival, to promote this crewman to the position of master of the vessel. This

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necessitated his return to Nassau to obtain "papers" covering the latter rating. And, since the vessel was in need of minor repairs, it was agreed by the owners that the crewman should combine his business trip to Nassau with a vacation. It was the understanding of all parties concerned, however, that the crewman would return to the United States and assume command of the vessel as soon as it could be repaired. Accordingly, he was paid the wages he had earned to date, plus a $50 advance against future earnings.

On September 3, 1960, the crewman left the United States for Nassau aboard an aircraft operated by Pan American World Airways. He then surrendered his D-1 conditional landing permit (supra) to that carrier, and the latter endorsed it to show his departure and forwarded it to the Service. According to the record, this was the procedure the crewman was told to follow by the immigration officer who admitted him. Apparently he had advised said officer of his intended brief trip to Nassau at the time of his admission.

Now, however, it develops that the crewman is still in Nassau and has accepted part-time employment there. The reason given is that hurricane Donna wrecked the vessel, and that its owners have not as yet been able to raise the funds necessary to render it seaworthy again. Thus, the date of the crewman's resumption of his duties aboard the vessel is uncertain. But the record definitely demonstrates that he intends to rejoin it eventually, and that its owners still consider him its master.

Under this section of the law, the element essential to establish a violation is the termination of the crewman's employment by an affirmative act of the parties responsible for the vessel or of the crewman himself (United States v. Seaboard Surety Company, 239 F.2d 667). But there is no evidence of any character here to show the existence of that crucial factor. Therefore, we hold that liability to fine for paying off and/or discharging the crewman has not been incurred.

The payment of wages in full to the crewman did not, in and of itself, constitute a breach of the statute (United States v. Seaboard Surety Company, supra). The granting of a leave of absence (vacation) to him did not, as we have consistently held, constitute a termination of the crewman's services aboard the vessel on which he arrived in the United States, being merely a temporary interruption thereof. His temporary departure from the United States did not sever his connection with the vessel and was obviously made with Service approval and in compliance with the conditions of his admission, at least from the time limitation standpoint. His delay in rejoining the vessel has resulted from circumstances beyond the control of any of the parties concerned, and certainly not from the

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affirmative act or desires of any of them. Finally, no claim has been advanced or showing made that the crewman has been signed off the vessel's articles or given a discharge slip.

ORDER: It is ordered that the appeal be sustained and that the fine be not imposed.

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