🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for Certificates of Discharge on U.S. documented vessels • Who keeps the original discharge vs. who keeps the copies • What forms of signatures are acceptable on official maritime documents

💭 Think About

• Think about the normal paperwork flow at the end of a voyage: which party needs the original document for their records and future employment? • Consider whether modern practices (like electronic or computer-generated signatures) are ever recognized on official federal forms, or if only ink signatures are allowed. • Ask yourself: how many times does the mariner actually sign, and who else must sign, to properly complete a discharge?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in 46 CFR who is required to retain the original certificate of discharge. • Confirm whether electronic or computer-generated signatures are mentioned as acceptable or prohibited for discharge certificates. • Check whether the regulations state that the company or the mariner is furnished with copies, and in what form.