46 U.S.C. § 10907
Permission to make complaint
(a)
A master may not refuse to permit, deny the opportunity to, or hinder a seaman who wishes to make a complaint authorized by this chapter.
(b)
A master violating this section is liable to the United States Government for civil penalty of $500.
( Pub. L. 98–89 , Aug. 26, 1983 , 97 Stat. 577 .)