Legal Definitions - allotment note

An allotment note, under English law, is a specific type of written instruction given by a seafarer (a person working on a ship) to their employer. This instruction directs the employer to regularly pay a designated portion of the seafarer's wages directly to a close family member. The eligible family members typically include a spouse, parent, grandparent, or sibling. The purpose of an allotment note is to ensure that a seafarer's family can receive financial support while the seafarer is away at sea.

Here are some examples illustrating how an allotment note might be used:

• Example 1: Supporting a Spouse During a Long Voyage

  Captain Anya is preparing for a nine-month international shipping route. To ensure her husband, Ben, has a steady income to manage household bills and their children's expenses while she is away, Anya signs an allotment note. This note instructs her shipping company to transfer £1,500 from her monthly salary directly into Ben's bank account for the duration of her voyage. This is an allotment note because it's a seafarer's written assignment of a portion of her wages to her spouse.

• Example 2: Providing for an Elderly Parent

  Liam works as an engineer on a merchant vessel and frequently spends several months at sea. His elderly mother, who lives alone, relies on some financial assistance. Before his next long assignment, Liam completes an allotment note with his employer, authorizing them to send £400 from his bi-weekly pay directly to his mother's account. This arrangement ensures his mother receives consistent support even when Liam is unable to manage his finances directly from the ship. This demonstrates an allotment note as it's a seaman's written directive to allocate part of his wages to a parent.

• Example 3: Assisting a Sibling with Education Costs

  Maria is a deckhand saving money to help her younger brother, Carlos, pay for his college tuition. As she embarks on a year-long contract with a cruise line, Maria uses an allotment note. She instructs her employer to transfer £250 from her monthly earnings directly to Carlos's university bursar's office. This allows her to contribute to his education consistently while she is working abroad. This is an allotment note because it's a seafarer's written instruction to assign a portion of her earnings to a sibling.