# Penalty in CFR or USC for failure to provide sea time letter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [March 12, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567 "2018-03-12T21:08:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JGB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jgb/32/4633_2.png) [@JGB](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/JGB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/1 "2018-03-12T21:08:03Z")
A friend just pointed out that 46 CFR 14.305 - 14.311 require an employer to provide documentation of sea service. But has anyone heard of a penalty or enforcement mechanism to compel this? If they don’t provide a letter, what options would a mariner have? ---
**Author:** ![DirtyCoast](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dirtycoast/32/9387_2.png) [@DirtyCoast](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DirtyCoast)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/2 "2018-03-12T22:56:06Z")
I can’t quote the CFR’s but I am fairly certain the employer has to legally provide a sea time letter on an annual basis if asked to do so. I could see them refusing if a mariner kept asking again and again on a monthly basis but I know they are legally required to give you a letter. The only situations I have found where this comes up is when a mariner leaves unprofessionally, but still they should legally have to provide it. The Maritime industry is big, but a small world as well. I would be careful who you tell to “f off” when leaving a job because odds are you will regret burning that bridge somewhere down the line. If any one can find the CFR, I would appreciate it as well. ---
**Author:** ![JGB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jgb/32/4633_2.png) [@JGB](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/JGB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/3 "2018-03-12T23:17:28Z")
> [@JGB](#): > > 46 CFR 14.305 Where Y’at, DC? For sure they must legally (46 CFR 14.305 et seq) but what’s the penalty if they don’t? My sitch is with a defunct volunteer program that can’t find their logs but won’t sign the letters I’ve drafted “until they find the logs.” It’s been over a month now & nobody’s picking up the phone any more. ---
**Author:** ![c.captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/c.captain/32/807_2.png) [@c.captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/c.captain)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/4 "2018-03-13T01:01:01Z")
> [@JGB](#): > > but what’s the penalty if they don’t? any penalty would be stipulated in 46USC (United States Code) not in 46CFR btw, I believe this is what you seek ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/5/58b157f6fdda2ea2bf8bd06a54cca5f2653c2f72.png) ---
**Author:** ![catherder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@catherder](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/catherder)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 1:56am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/5 "2018-03-13T01:56:03Z")
Good luck getting it enforced. You’d have to call the Coast Guard. I suppose you could call and discuss it with them but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. I work for the government and I have had to go to the union and get them to intercede just to get my sea letter sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![JGB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jgb/32/4633_2.png) [@JGB](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/JGB)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/penalty-in-cfr-or-usc-for-failure-to-provide-sea-time-letter/47567/6 "2018-03-13T03:28:00Z")
👍