Land Transportation and Traffic Code

Article 586

The owner of a vessel and the agent shall be civilly liable for the acts of the captain and for the obligations contracted by the latter to repair, equip, and provision the vessel, provided the creditor proves that the amount claimed was invested therein. By agent is understood the person intrusted with the provisioning of a vessel, or who represents her in the port in which she happens to be.

Article 587

The agent shall also be civilly liable for the indemnities in favor of third persons which arise from the conduct of the captain in the care of the goods which the vessel carried; but he may exempt himself therefrom by abandoning the vessel with all her equipments and the freight he may have earned during the voyage.

Article 588

Neither the owner of the vessel nor the agent shall be liable for the obligations contracted by the captain if the latter exceeds his powers and privileges which are his by reason of his position or have been conferred upon him by the former. However, if the amounts claimed were made use of for the benefit of the vessel, the owner or agent shall be liable.

Article 589

If two or more persons should be part owners of a merchant vessel, an association shall be presumed as established by the part owners. This association shall be governed by the resolutions of a majority of the members. A majority shall be the relative majority of the voting members. If there should be only two part owners, in case of disagreement the vote of the member having the largest interest shall be decisive. If the interests are equal, it shall be decided by lot. The representation of the smallest part in the ownership shall have one vote; and proportionately the other part owners as many votes as they have parts equal to the smallest one. A vessel can not be detained, attached or levied upon execution in her entirety for the private debts of a part owner, but the proceedings shall be limited to the interest the debtor may have in the vessel, without interfering with her navigation.

Article 590

The owners of a vessel shall be civilly liable in the proportion of their contribution to the common fund, for the results of the acts of the captain, referred to in Article 587. Each part owner may exempt himself from this liability by the abandonment before a notary of the part of the vessel belonging to him.

Article 591

All the part owners shall be liable, in proportion to their respective ownership, for the expenses of repairs to the vessel, and for other expenses which are incurred by virtue of a resolution of the majority. They shall likewise be liable in the same proportion for the expenses of maintenance, equipment, and provisioning of the vessel, necessary for navigation.

Article 592

The resolutions of the majority with regard to the repair, equipment, and provisioning of the vessel in the port of departure shall bind the majority unless the partners in the minority renounce their participation therein, which must be acquired by the other part owners after a judicial appraisement of the value of the portion or portions assigned. The resolutions of the majority relating to the dissolution of the association and sale of the vessel shall also be binding on the minority. The sale of the vessel must take place at a public auction, subject to the provisions of the law of civil procedure unless the part owners unanimously agree otherwise, the right of option to purchase and to withdraw mentioned in Article 575 being always reserved in favor of said part owners.

Article 593

The owners of a vessel shall have preference in her charter to other persons, offering equal conditions and price. If two or more of the former should claim said right the one having greater interest shall be preferred, and should they have an equal interest it shall be decided by lot.

Article 594

The part owners shall elect the manager who is to represent them in the capacity of agent. The appointment of director or agent shall be revocable at the will of the members.

Article 595

The agent, be he at the same time an owner of a vessel or a manager for an owner or for an association of co-owners, must be qualified to trade and must be recorded in the merchant's registry of the province. The agent shall represent the ownership of the vessel, and may in his own name and in such capacity take judicial and extrajudicial steps in all that relates to commerce.

Article 596

The agent may discharge the duties of captain of the vessel, subject, in every case, to the provisions contained in Article 609. If two or more co-owners request the position of captain, the disagreement shall be decided by a vote of the members; and if the vote should result in a tie, the position shall be given to the part owner having the larger interest in the vessel. If the interest of the petitioners should be the same, and there should be a tie, the matter shall be decided by lot.

Article 597

The agent shall select and come to an agreement with the captain, and shall contract in the name of the owners, who shall be bound in all that refers to repairs, details of equipment, armament, provisions, fuel, and freight of the vessel, and, in general, in all that relates to the requirements of navigation.

Article 598

The agent can not order a new voyage, nor make contracts for a new charter, nor insure the vessel, without the authority of her owner or by virtue of a resolution of the majority of the co-owners, unless these privileges were granted him in the certificate of his appointment. If he should insure the vessel without authority therefor he shall be secondarily liable for the solvency of the underwriter.

Article 599

The managing agent of an association, shall give his co-owners an account of the results of each voyage of the vessel, without prejudice to always having the books and correspondence relating to the vessel and to its voyages at the disposal of the same.

Article 600

After the account of the managing agent has been approved by a relative majority, the co-owners shall satisfy the expenses in proportion to their interest, without prejudice to the civil or criminal actions which the minority may deem fit to institute afterwards. In order to enforce the payment, the managing agent shall have a right of action to secure execution, which shall be instituted by virtue of a resolution of the majority, and without further proceedings than the acknowledgment of the signatures of the persons who voted the resolution.

Article 601

Should there be any profits, the co-owners may demand of the managing agent the amount due them, by means of an executory action without further requisites than the acknowledgment of the signatures of the instrument approving the account.

Article 602

The agent shall indemnify the captain for all the expenses he may have incurred from his own funds or from those of other persons, for the benefit of the vessel.

Article 603

Before a vessel goes out to sea the agent shall have at his discretion, a right to discharge the captain and members of the crew whose contract did not state a definite period nor a definite voyage, paying them the salaries earned according to their contracts, and without any indemnity whatsoever, unless there is a special and specific agreement in respect thereto.

Article 604

If the captain or any other member of the crew should be discharged during the voyage, they shall receive their salary until the return to the place where the contract was made, unless there are good reasons for the discharge, all in accordance with Articles 636 et seq. of this Code.

Article 605

If the contracts of the captain and members of the crew with the agent should be for a definite period or voyage, they can not be discharged until the fulfillment of their contracts, except for reasons of insubordination in serious matters, robbery, theft, habitual drunkenness, and damage caused to the vessel or to its cargo by malice or manifest or proven negligence.

Article 606

If the captain should be a part owner in the vessel, he can not be discharged without the agent returning him the amount of his interest therein, which, in the absence of an agreement between the parties, shall be appraised by experts appointed in the manner established in the law of civil procedure.

Article 607

If the captain who is a part owner should have obtained the command of the vessel by virtue of a special agreement contained in the articles of co-partnership, he can not be deprived thereof except for the reasons mentioned in Article 605.

Article 608

In case of the voluntary sale of the vessel, all contracts between the agent and captain shall terminate, the right to proper indemnity being reserved in favor of the captain, according to the agreements made with the agent. They vessel sold shall remain subject to the security of the payment of said indemnity if, after the action against the vendor has been instituted, the latter should be insolvent. SECTION II Captains and Masters of Vessels

Article 609

Captains and masters of vessels must be Spaniards * having legal capacity to bind themselves in accordance with this Code, and must prove that they have the skill, capacity, and qualifications required to command and direct the vessel, as established by marine laws, ordinances, or regulations, or by those of navigation, and that they are not disqualified according to the same for the discharge of the duties of that position. t If the owner of a vessel desires to be the captain thereof and does not have the legal qualifications therefor, he shall limit himself to the financial administration of the vessel, and shall intrust her navigation to a person possessing the qualifications required by said ordinances and regulations.

Article 610

The following powers are inherent in the position of captain or master of a vessel: 1. To appoint or make contracts with the crew in the absence of the agent and propose said crew, should said agent be present; but the agent shall not be permitted to employ any member against the captain's express refusal. 2. To command the crew and direct the vessel to the port of its destination, in accordance with the instructions he may have received from the agent. 3. To impose, in accordance with the agreements and the laws and regulations of the merchants marine, on board the vessel, correctional punishment upon those who do not comply with his orders or who conduct themselves against discipline, holding a preliminary investigation on the crimes committed on board the vessel on the high seas, which shall be turned over to the authorities, who are to take cognizance thereof, at the first port touched. 4. To make contracts for the charter of the vessel in the absence of the agent or of her consignee, acting in accordance with the instructions received and protecting the interests of the owner most carefully. 5. To adopt all the measures which may be necessary to keep the vessel well supplied and equipped, purchasing for the purpose all that may be necessary, provided there is no time to request instructions of the agent. 6. To make, in similar urgent cases and on a voyage, the repairs to the hull and engines of the vessel and to her rigging and equipment which are absolutely necessary in order for her to be able to continue and conclude her voyage; but if she should arrive at a point where there is a consignee of the vessel, he shall act in concurrence with the latter.

Article 611

In order to comply with the obligations mentioned in the foregoing article, the captain, when he has no funds and does not expect to receive any from the agent, shall procure the same in the successive order stated below: 1. By requesting said funds of the consignees or correspondents of a vessel. 2. By applying to the consignees of the cargo or to the persons interested therein. 3. By drawing on the agent. 4. By borrowing the amount required by means of a bottomry bond. 5. By selling a sufficient amount of the cargo to cover the amount absolutely necessary to repair the vessel, and to equip her to pursue the voyage. In the two latter cases he must apply to the judicial authority of the port, if in Spain * and to the Spanish * consul, if in a foreign country; and where there should be none, to the local authority, proceeding in accordance with the prescriptions of Article 583, and with the provisions of the law of civil procedure.

Article 612

The following obligations are inherent in the office of captain: 1. To have on board before starting on a voyage a detailed inventory of the hull, engines, rigging, tackle, stores, and other equipments of the vessel; the navigation certificate; the roll of the persons who make up the crew of the vessel, and the contracts entered into with the crew; the list of passengers; the health certificate; the certificate of the registry proving the ownership of the vessel, and all the obligations which encumber the same up to that date; the charters or authenticated copies thereof; the invoices or manifest of the cargo, and the instrument of the expert visit or inspection, should it have been made at the port of departure. 2. To have a copy of this Code on board. 3. To have three folioed and stamped books, placing at the beginning of each one a note of the number of folios it contains, signed by the maritime official, and in his absence by the competent authority. In the first book, which shall be called "log book," he shall enter every day the condition of the atmosphere, the prevailing winds, the course sailed, the rigging carried, the horsepower of the engines, the distance covered, the maneuvers executed, and other incidents of navigation. He shall also enter the damage suffered by the vessel in her hull, engines, rigging, and tackle, no matter what is its cause, as well as the imperfections and averages of the cargo, and the effects and consequence of the jettison, should there be any; and in cases of grave resolutions which require the advice or a meeting of the officers of the vessel, or even of the passengers and crew, he shall record the decision adopted. For the informations indicated he shall make use of the binnacle book, and of the steam or engine book kept by the engineer. In the second book, called the "accounting book," he shall enter all the amounts collected and paid for the account of the vessel, entering specifically article by article, the sources of the collection, and the amounts invested in provisions, repairs, acquisition of rigging or goods, fuel, outfits, wages, and all other expenses. He shall furthermore enter therein a list of all the members of the crew, stating their domiciles, their wages and salaries, and the amounts they may have received on account, either directly or by delivery to their families. In the third book, called "freight book," he shall record the entry and exit of all the goods, stating their marks and packages, names of the shippers and of the consignees, ports of loading and unloading, and the freight earned. In the same book he shall record the names and places of sailing of the passengers and the number of packages of which their baggage consists, and the price of the passage. 4. To make, before receiving the freight, with the officers of the crew, and the two experts, if required by the shippers and passengers, an examination of the vessel, in order to ascertain whether she is watertight, and whether the rigging and engines are in good condition; and if she has the equipment required for good navigation, preserving a certificate of the memorandum of this inspection, signed by all the persons who may have taken part therein, under their liability. The experts shall be appointed one by the captain of the vessel and the other one by the persons who request the examination, and in case of disagreement a third shall be appointed by the marine authority of the port. 5. To remain constantly on board the vessel with the crew during the time the freight is taken on board and carefully watch the stowage thereof; not to consent to any merchandise or goods of a dangerous character to be taken on, such as inflammable or explosive substances, without the precautions which are recommended for their packing, management and isolation; not to permit that any freight be carried on deck which by reason of its disposition, volume, or weight makes the work of the sailors difficult, and which might endanger the safety of the vessel; and if, on account of the nature of the merchandise, the special character of the shipment, and principally the favorable season it takes place, he allows merchandise to be carried on deck, he must hear the opinion of the officers of the vessel, and have the consent of the shippers and of the agent. 6. To demand a pilot at the expense of the vessel whenever required by navigation, and principally when a port, canal, or river, or a roadstead or anchoring place is to be entered with which neither he, the officers nor the crew are acquainted. 7. To be on deck at the time of sighting land and to take command on entering and leaving ports, canals, roadsteads, and rivers, unless there is a pilot on board discharging his duties. He shall not spend the night away from the vessel except for serious causes or by reason of official business. 8. To present himself, when making a port in distress, to the maritime authority if in Spain * and to the Spanish * consul if in a foreign country, before twenty-four hours have elapsed, and make a statement of the name, registry, and port of departure of the vessel, of its cargo, and reason of arrival, which declaration shall be vised by the authority or by the consul if after examining the same it is found to be acceptable, giving the captain the proper certificate in order to show his arrival under stress and the reasons therefor. In the absence of marine officials or of the consul, the declaration must be made before the local authority. 9. To take the steps necessary before the competent authority in order to enter in the certificate of the Commercial Registry of the vessel the obligations which he may contract in accordance with Article 583. 10. To put in a safe place and keep all the papers and belongings of any members of the crew who might die on the vessel, drawing up a detailed inventory, in the presence of passengers as witnesses, and, in their absence, of members of the crew. 11. To conduct himself according to the rules and precepts contained in the instructions of the agent, being liable for all that he may do in violation thereof. 12. To give an account to the agent from the port where the vessel arrives, of the reason thereof, taking advantage of the semaphore, telegraph, mail, etc., according to the cases; notify him the freight he may have received, stating the name and domicile of the shippers, freight earned, and amounts borrowed on bottomry bond, advise him of his departure, and give him any information and data which may be of interest. 13. To observe the rules on the situation of lights and evolutions to prevent collisions. 14. To remain on board in case of danger to the vessel, until all hope to save her is lost, and before abandoning her to hear the officers of the crew, abiding by the decision of the majority; and if he should have to take a boat he shall take with him, before anything else, the books and papers, and then the articles of most value, being obliged to prove in case of the loss of the books and papers that he did all he could to save them. 15. In case of wreck he shall make the proper protest in due form at the first port reached, before the competent authority or the Spanish * consul, within twenty-four hours, stating therein all the incidents of the wreck, in accordance with case 8 of this article. 16. To comply with the obligations imposed by the laws and rules of navigation, customs, health, and others.

Article 613

A captain who navigates for freight in common or on shares can not make any transaction for his exclusive account, and should he do so the profit shall belong to the other persons in interest, and the losses shall be for his own exclusive account.

Article 614

A captain who, having made an agreement to make a voyage, should not fulfill his obligation, without being prevented by an accident case or by force majeure, shall pay for all the losses his action may cause, without prejudice to criminal penalties which may be proper.

Article 615

Without the consent of the agent, the captain can not have himself substituted by another person; and should he do so, besides being liable for all the acts of the substitute and bound to the indemnities mentioned in the foregoing article, the substitute as well as the captain may be discharged by the agent.

Article 616

If the provisions and fuel of the vessel are consumed before arriving at the port of destination, the captain shall decide, with the consent of the officers of the same, to make the nearest port to get a supply of either; but if there are persons on board who have provisions of their own he may force them to turn said provisions over for the common consumption of all persons on board, paying the price thereof immediately, or at the latest, at the first port reached.

Article 617

The captain can not contract loans on respondentia, and should he do so the contracts shall be void. Neither can he borrow money on bottomry for his own transactions, except on the portion of the vessel he owns, provided no money has been previously borrowed on the whole vessel, and provided there does not exist any other kind of lien or obligation thereon. When he is permitted to do so, he must necessarily state what interest he has in the vessel. In case of violation of this article the principal, interest, and costs shall be charged to the private account of the captain, and the agent may furthermore have the right to discharge him.

Article 618

The captain shall be civilly liable to the agent, and the latter to the third persons who may have made contracts with the former — 1. For all the damages suffered by the vessel and his cargo by reason of want of skill or negligence on his part. If a misdemeanor or crime has been committed he shall be liable in accordance with the Penal Code. 2. For all the thefts committed by the crew, reserving his right of action against the guilty parties. 3. For the losses, fines, and confiscations imposed an account of violation of the laws and regulations of customs, police, health, and navigation. 4. For the losses and damages caused by mutinies on board the vessel, or by reason of faults committed by the crew in the service and defense of the same, if he does not prove that he made full use of his authority to prevent or avoid them. 5. For those arising by reason of an undue use of powers and non-fulfillment of the obligations which are his in accordance with Articles 610 and 612. 6. For those arising by reason of his going out of his course or taking a course which he should not have taken without sufficient cause, in the opinion of the officers of the vessel, at a meeting with the shippers or supercargoes who may be on board. No exception whatsoever shall exempt him from this obligation. 7. For those arising by reason of his voluntarily entering a port other than his destination, with the exception of the cases or without the formalities referred to in Article 612. 8. For those arising by reason of the non-observance of the provisions contained in the regulations for lights and evolutions for the purpose of preventing collisions.

Article 619

The captain shall be liable for the cargo from the time it is turned over to him at the dock, or afloat alongside the ship, at the port of loading until he delivers it on the shores or on the discharging wharf, of the port of unloading unless the contrary has been expressly agreed upon.

Article 620

The captain shall not be liable for the damages caused to the vessel or to the cargo by reason of force majeure; but he shall always be so — no agreement to the contrary being valid — for those arising through his own fault. Neither shall he be personally liable for the obligations he may have contracted for the repair, equipment, and provisioning of the vessel, which shall be incurred by the agent, unless the former has expressly bound himself personally or signed a draft or promissory note in his name.

Article 621

A captain who borrows money on bottomry, or who pledges or sells merchandise or provisions in other cases and without the formalities prescribed in this Code, shall be liable for the principle, interest, and costs, and shall indemnify for the damages he may cause. The captain who commits fraud in his accounts shall reimburse the amount defrauded, and shall be subject to the provisions contained in the Penal Code.

Article 622

If when on a voyage the captain should receive news of the appearance of privateers or men of war against his flag, he shall be obliged to make the nearest neutral port, inform his agent or shippers, and await an occasion to sail under convoy or until the danger is over or to receive final orders from the agent or shippers.

Article 623

If he should find himself being attacked by a privateer and after having done all that was possible to avoid the encounter and have resisted the delivery of the equipment of the vessel or of its cargo, they should be forcibly taken away from him, or he should be obliged to deliver them, he shall make an entry in his freight book and shall prove the fact before the competent authority at the first port he touches. After the force majeure has been proven, he shall be exempted from liability.

Article 624

A captain whose vessel has gone through a hurricane or who believes that the cargo has suffered damages or averages, shall make a protest thereon before the competent authority at the first port he touches within the twenty-four hours following his arrival, and shall ratify it within the same period when he arrives at the place of his destination, immediately preceding with the proof of the facts, it not being permitted to open the hatches until this has been done. The captain shall proceed in the same manner if, the vessel having been wrecked, he is saved alone or with part of his crew, in which case he shall appear before the nearest authority, and make a sworn statement of the facts. The authority or the consul abroad shall verify the said facts, receiving a sworn statement of the members of the crew and passengers who may have been saved, and taking the other steps which may assist in arriving at the facts, drafting a certificate of the result of the proceedings in the log book and in that of the sailing mate, and shall deliver the original records of the proceedings to the captain, stamped and folioed, with a memorandum of the folios, which he must rubricate, for their presentation to the judge or court of the port of destination. The statement of the captain shall be believed if it is in accordance with those of the crew and passengers; if they disagree, the latter shall be accepted, unless there is proof to the contrary.

Article 625

The captain, under his personal liability, as soon as he arrives at the port of destination, obtains the necessary permission from the health and customs officers and fulfills the other formalities required by the regulations of the administration, shall turn over the cargo, without any defalcation, to the consignees, and, in a proper case, the vessel, rigging, and freights to the agent. If, by reason of the absence of the consignee or on account of the nonappearance of a legal holder of the invoices, the captain does not know to whom he is to make the legal delivery of the cargo, he shall place it at the disposal of the proper judge or court or authority, in order that he may decide with regard to its deposit, preservation, and custody. SECTION III Officers and Crews of Vessels

Article 626

In order to be a sailing mate it shall be necessary: 1. To have the conditions required by the marine or navigation laws or regulations. 2. Not to be disqualified in accordance therewith for the discharge of the position.

Article 627

The sailing mate, as the second chief of the vessel and unless the agent orders otherwise, shall take the place of the captain in cases of absence, sickness, or death, and shall then assume all his powers, obligations, and responsibilities.

Article 628

The sailing mate must supply himself with charts of the waters which are to be navigated, with the maps and quadrants or sextants which are in use and which are necessary for the discharge of his duties, being liable for the accidents which may arise by reason of his fault in this matter.

Article 629

The sailing mate shall personally and specially keep a book folioed and stamped on all its pages, called the "binnacle book", with a memorandum at the beginning stating the number of folios it contains, signed by the competent authority, and shall enter therein daily the distance and course travelled, the variations of the needle, the leeway, the direction and force of the wind, the condition of the atmosphere and of the sea, the rigging set, the latitude and longitude observed, the number of furnaces fired, the steam pressure, the number of revolutions, and under the name of "incidents" the revolutions made, the meetings with other vessels, and all the particulars and accidents which may occur during the voyage.

Article 630

In order to change the course and to take the one most convenient for a good voyage of the vessel, the sailing mate shall come to an agreement with the captain. If the latter should object, the sailing mate shall make the remarks he may consider necessary in the presence of the other officers of the vessel. If the captain should still insist on his objection, the sailing mate shall make the proper protest, signed by him and by another one of the officers in the log book, and shall obey the captain, who shall be the only one liable for the consequences of his order.

Article 631

The sailing mate shall be liable for all the damages suffered by the vessel and cargo by reason of his negligence or want of skill, without prejudice to the criminal liability which may arise, if a felony or misdemeanor were committed.

Article 632

It shall be the duty of the second mate: 1. To watch over the preservation of the hull, and rigging of the vessel, and to take charge of the tackle and equipment which make up her outfit, suggesting to the captain the repairs necessary and the replacement of the goods and implements which are rendered useless and lost. 2. To take care that the cargo is well arranged, keeping the vessel always ready for evolutions. 3. To preserve order, discipline, and good service among the crew, requesting the necessary orders and instructions of the captain, and quickly informing him of any occurrence in which the intervention of his authority may be necessary. 4. To assign to each sailor the work he is to do on board, in accordance with the instructions received, and see that it is exactly and carefully carried out. 5. To take charge by inventory of the rigging and all the equipments of the vessel, if it should be laid up, unless the agent has ordered otherwise. With regard to engineers the following rules shall govern: 1. In order to be taken on board as a marine engineer forming part of the complement of a merchant vessel it shall be necessary to possess the qualifications which the laws and regulations require, and not to be disqualified in accordance therewith to hold said position. Engineers shall be considered as officers of the vessel, but they shall exercise no command nor intervention except that which refers to the motive power. 2. When there are two or more engineers on one vessel, one of them shall be the chief, and the other engineers and all the personnel of the engines shall be under his orders; he shall furthermore have the motive power under his charge, as well as the spare pieces, instruments, and implements belonging thereto, the fuel, the lubricating material and, finally, all which comes under the jurisdiction of an engineer on board a vessel. 3. He shall keep the engines and boilers in good condition and in state of cleanliness, and shall order what may be proper in order that they may always be ready for regular use, being liable for the accidents or damages which may arise by reason of his want of skill or negligence to the motive apparatus, or to the vessel and cargo, without prejudice to the criminal liability which may be proper if a felony or misdemeanor is proven. 4. He shall make no change in the motive apparatus, nor shall he repair the averages he may have noticed in the same, nor change the normal speed of its movement without the prior authority of the captain, to whom, if he should object to their being made, he shall state the reasons he may deem proper in the presence of the other engineers or officers; and if, notwithstanding this, the captain should insist on his objection, the chief engineer shall make the proper protest, entering the same in the engine book, and shall obey the captain, who shall be the only one liable for the consequences of his order. 5. He shall inform the captain of any average which may occur to the motive apparatus, and shall inform him when it may be necessary to stop the engines for some time, or when any other incident occurs in his department of which the captain should be immediately informed, frequently advising him furthermore of the consumption of fuel and lubricating material. 6. He shall keep a book or registry called the "Engine Book," in which there shall be entered all the data that refer to the work of the engines, such as, for example, the number of furnaces fired, the steam pressure in the boilers and cylinders, the vacuum in the condenser, the temperatures, the degree of saturation of the water, the consumption of fuel and lubricating material, and under the heading of "Noteworthy occurrences" the average and imperfections which occur in the engines and boilers, the causes therefor, and the means employed to repair the same. There shall also be stated, taking the information from the binnacle book, and direction of the wind, the rigging set, and the speed of the vessel.

Article 633

The second mate shall take command of the vessel in case of the impossibility or disability of the captain and sailing mate, assuming in such case their powers and liability.

Article 634

The captain may make up his crew with the number he may consider advisable, and in the absence of Spanish * sailors he may ship foreigners residing in the country, the number thereof not to exceed one-fifth of the total crew. If in foreign ports the captain should not find a sufficient number of Spanish *sailors, he may make up the crew with foreigners, with the consent of the consul or marine authorities. The agreements which the captain may make with the members of the crew and others who go to make up the complement of the vessels, to which reference is made in Article 612, must be reduced to writing in the account book without the intervention of a notary public or clerk, signed by the parties thereto, and vised by the marine authority if they are executed in Spanish * territory, or by the consuls or consular agents of Spain * if executed abroad, stating therein all the obligations which each one contracts and all the rights they acquire, said authorities taking care that these obligations and rights are recorded in a concise and clear manner, which will not give rise to doubts or claims. The captain shall take care to read to them the articles of this Code, which concern them, stating that they were read in the said document. If the book includes the requisites prescribed in Article 612, and there should not appear any signs of alterations in its clauses, it shall be admitted as evidence in questions which may arise between the captain and the crew with regard to the agreements contained therein and the amounts paid on account of the same. Every member of the crew may request a copy of the captain, signed by the latter, of the agreement and of the liquidation of his wages, as they appear in the book.

Article 635

A sailor who has been contracted to serve on a vessel can not rescind his contract nor fail to comply therewith except by reason of a legitimate impediment which may have occurred. Neither can he pass from the service of one vessel to another without obtaining the written consent of the vessel on which he may be. If, without obtaining said permission, the sailor who has signed for one vessel should sign for another one, the second contract shall be void, and the captain may choose between forcing him to fulfill the service to which he first bound himself or look for a person to substitute him at his expense. Said sailor shall furthermore lose the wages earned on his first contract to the benefit of the vessel for which he may have signed. A captain who, knowing that a sailor is in the service of another vessel, should have made a new agreement with him, without having requested the permission referred to in the foregoing paragraphs, shall be personally liable to the captain of the vessel to which the sailor first belonged for that part of the indemnity, referred to in the third paragraph of this article, which the sailor could not pay.

Article 636

Should a fixed period for which a sailor has signed not be stated, he can not be discharged until the end of the return voyage to the port where he enrolled.

Article 637

Neither can the captain discharge a sailor during the time of his contract except for sufficient cause, the following being considered as such: 1. The perpetration of a crime which disturbs order on the vessel. 2. Repeated offenses of insubordination, against discipline, or against the fulfillment of the service. 3. Repeated incapacity or negligence in the fulfillment of the service to be rendered. 4. Habitual drunkenness. 5. Any occurrence which incapacitates the sailor to carry out the work under his charge, with the exception of the provisions contained in Article 644. 6. Desertion. The captain may, however, before setting out on a voyage and without giving any reason whatsoever, refuse to permit a sailor he may have engaged from going on board and may leave him on land, in which case he will be obliged to pay him his wages as if he had rendered services. This indemnity shall be paid from the funds of the vessel if the captain should have acted for reasons of prudence and in the interest of the safety and good service of the former. Should this not be the case, it shall be paid by the captain personally. After the vessel has sailed, and during the voyage and until the conclusion thereof, the captain can not abandon any member of his crew on land or on the sea, unless, by reason of being guilty of some crime, his imprisonment and delivery to the competent authority is proper in the first port touched, which will be obligatory on the captain.

Article 638

If, the crew having been engaged, the voyage is revoked by the will of the agent or of the charterers before or after the vessel has put to sea or if the vessel is in the same manner given a different destination than that fixed in the agreement with the crew, the latter shall be indemnified because of the rescission of the contract according to the case, viz: 1. If the revocation of the voyage should be decided before the departure of the vessel from the port, each sailor engaged shall be given one month's salary, besides what may be due him in accordance with his contract, for the services rendered to the vessel up to the date of the revocation. 2. If the agreement should have been for a fixed amount for the whole voyage, there shall be graduated what may be due for said month and days, calculating the same in proportion to the estimated duration of the voyage, in the judgment of experts, in the manner established in the law of civil procedure; and if the proposed voyage should be of such short duration that it is calculated at one month more or less, the indemnity shall be fixed for fifteen days, discounting in all cases the sums advanced. 3. If the revocation should take place after the vessel has put to sea, the sailors engaged for a fixed amount for the voyage shall receive the salary which may have been offered them in full as if the voyage had terminated, and those engaged by the month shall receive the amount corresponding to the time they might have been on board and to the time they may require to arrive at the port of destination, the captain being obliged, furthermore, to pay said sailors the passage to the said port or to the port of sailing of the vessel, as may be convenient for them. 4. If the agent or the charterers of the vessel should give said vessel a destination other than that fixed in the agreement, and the members of the crew should not agree thereto, they shall be given by way of indemnity half the amount fixed in case No. 1, besides what may be owed them for the part of the monthly wages corresponding to the days which have elapsed from the date of their agreements. If they accept the change, and the voyage, on account of the greater distance or for other reasons, should give rise to an increase of wages, the latter shall be privately regulated, or through amicable arbitrators in case of disagreement. Even though the voyage may be to a nearer point, this shall not give rise to a reduction in the wages agreed upon. If the revocation or change of the voyage should originate from the shippers or charterers, the agent shall have a right to demand of them the indemnity which is justly due.

Article 639

If the revocation of the voyage should arise from a just cause independent of the will of the agent or charterers, and the vessel should not have left the port, the members of the crew shall not have any other right than to receive the wages earned up to the day on which the revocation took place.

Article 640

The following shall be just causes for the revocation of the voyage: 1. A declaration of war or interdiction of commerce with the power to whose territory the vessel was bound. 2. The blockade of the port of destination or the breaking out of an epidemic after the agreement. 3. The prohibition to receive in said port the goods which make up the cargo of the vessel. 4. The detention or embargo of the same by order of the Government, or for any other reason independent of the will of the agent. 5. The inability of the vessel to navigate.

Article 641

If, after a voyage has been begun, any of the first three causes mentioned in the foregoing article should occur, the sailors shall be paid at the port the captain may deem it advisable to make for the benefit of the vessel and cargo, according to the time they may have served thereon; but if the vessel is to continue the voyage, the captain and the crew may mutually demand the enforcement of the contract. In case of the occurrence of the fourth cause, the crew shall continue to be paid half wages, if the agreement is by month but if the detention should exceed three months, the engagement shall be rescinded and the crew shall be paid what they should have earned, according to the contract, if the voyage had been made. And if the agreement had been made for a fixed sum for the voyage, the contract must be complied within the terms agreed upon. In the fifth case, the crew shall not have any other right than be entitled to recover the wages earned; but if the disability of the vessel should have been caused by the negligence or lack of skill of the captain, engineer, or sailing mate, they shall indemnify the crew for the loss suffered, always reserving the criminal liability which may be proper.

Article 642

If the crew has been engaged to work on shares they shall not be entitled, by reason of the revocation, delay, or greater extension of the voyage, to anything but the proportionate part of the indemnity paid into the common funds of the vessel by the persons liable for said occurrences.

Article 643

If the vessel and her freight should be totally lost, by reason of capture or wreck, all rights of the crew to demand any wages whatsoever shall be extinguished, as well as that of the agent for the recovery of the advances made. If a portion of the vessel or freight should be saved, or part of either, the crew engaged on wages, including the captain, shall retain their rights on the salvage, so far as they go, on the remainder of the vessel as well as value of the freightage or the cargo saved; but sailors who are engaged on shares shall not have any right whatsoever to the salvage of the hull, but only on the portion of the freightage saved. If they should have worked to collect the remainder of the ship-wrecked vessel, they shall be given an award in proportion to the efforts made and to the risks encountered in order to accomplish the salvage.

Article 644

A sailor who falls sick shall not lose his right to wages during the voyage, unless the sickness is the result of his own fault. At any rate, the costs of the attendance and cure shall be defrayed from the common funds, in the form of a loan. If the sickness should be caused by an injury received in the service or defense of the vessel the sailor shall be attended and cured from the common funds, there being deducted before anything else from the proceeds of the freight, the cost of the attendance and cure.

Article 645

If a sailor should die during the voyage his heir shall be given the wages earned and not received, according to his engagement and the reason for his death, namely — If he should have died a natural death and should have been engaged on wages there shall be paid what may have been earned up to the date of his death. If the engagement had been made for a fixed sum for the whole voyage there shall be paid half the amount earned if the sailor died on the voyage out, and the whole amount if he died on the return voyage. And if the engagement had been made on shares and the death should have occurred after the voyage was begun, the heirs shall be paid the entire portion due the sailor; but should the latter have died before the departure of the vessel from the port, the heirs shall not be entitled to claim anything. If the death should have occurred in the defense of the vessel, the sailor shall be considered as living, and his heirs shall be paid, at the end of the voyage, the full amount of wages or the full part of the profits due him as to the others of his grade. The sailor shall likewise be considered as present in the event of his capture when defending the vessel, in order to enjoy the same benefits as the rest; but should he have been captured on account of carelessness or other accident not related to the service, he shall only receive the wages due up to the day of his capture.

Article 646

The vessel with her engines, rigging, equipment, and freights shall be liable for the wages earned by the crew engaged per month or for the trip, the liquidation and payment ought to take place between one voyage and the other. After a new voyage has been undertaken, credits such as the former shall lose their right of preference.

Article 647

The officers and the crew of the vessel shall be exempted from all obligations contracted, if they deem it proper, in the following cases: 1. If, before the beginning of the voyage, the captain attempts to change it, or there occurs a naval war with the power to which the vessel was destined. 2. If a disease should break out and be officially declared epidemic in the port of destination. 3. If the vessel should change owner or captain.

Article 648

By the complement of a vessel shall be understood all the persons embarked, from the captain to the cabin boy, necessary for the management, evolutions, and service, and there shall, therefore, be understood as included in the complement the crew, sailing mates, engineers, stokers, and other persons not having a specific name; but there shall not be included the passengers nor the persons the vessel is only transporting. SECTION IV Supercargoes

Article 649

Supercargoes shall discharge on board the vessel the administrative duties which the agent or shippers may have assigned them; they shall keep an account and record of their transactions in a book which shall have the same conditions and requisites as required for the accounting book of the captain, and shall respect the latter in his duties as chief of the vessel. The powers and liabilities of the captain shall cease, when there is a supercargo, with regard to that part of the administration legitimately conferred upon the latter, but shall continue in force for all acts which are inseparable from his authority and office.

Article 650

All the provisions contained in the second section of Title III, Book II, with regard to qualifications, manner of making contracts, and liabilities of factors shall be applicable to supercargoes.

Article 651

Supercargoes can not, without special authorization or agreement, make any transaction for their own account during the voyage, with the exception of the ventures which, in accordance with the custom of the port of destination, they are permitted to do. Neither shall they be permitted to invest in the return trip more than the profits from the ventures, unless there is a special authorization thereto from the principals. SECTION I Charter Parties 1. Forms and Effects of Charter Parties