518. A vessel arrives in a foreign port and the Master is informed that the vessel is being sold to foreign interests. The new owners request that the crew remain on board to complete the voyage. Under these circumstances, which action can the crew take?

Upon a vessel's sale to foreign interests, the crew's shipping articles are terminated, entitling them to immediate discharge and transportation to their original port of engagement at the owner's expense; the crew is not obligated to remain on board and cannot be compelled to continue the voyage under the previous contract.