Opinion ID: 78415
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statutes Prohibiting the Withholding of Food

Text: 18 U.S.C. § 2191 states that [w]hoever, being the master or officer of a vessel of the United States, ... withholds from [the crew] suitable food and nourishment... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 46 U.S.C. § 11501 specifies that [f]or continued willful disobedience to lawful command or continued willful neglect of duty at sea, the seaman ... may be confined, on water and 1,000 calories, with full rations every 5th day, until the disobedience ends. Kurtz argues that these statutes require the provision of food and water to the crew. We disagree. Prohibiting the withholding of food is not tantamount to creating an affirmative duty to make it available on the vessel.