§30529 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

An owner of a vessel can file a lawsuit in a U.S. district court to limit how much they might have to pay. The owner must file within 6 months after someone gives them a written notice of a claim. When the suit is filed, the owner must either put into court (or give to a court-appointed trustee) an amount equal to the value of the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight or other court-approved security, plus any extra money or security the court later requires. After the owner does this, all claims and lawsuits against the owner about that matter stop.

Title 46, §30529

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The owner of a vessel may bring a civil action in a district court of the United States for limitation of liability under this chapter. The action must be brought within 6 months after a claimant gives the owner written notice of a claim.

(b)When the action is brought, the owner (at the owner’s option) shall—

(1)deposit with the court, for the benefit of claimants—

(A)an amount equal to the value of the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight, or approved security; and

(B)an amount, or approved security, that the court may fix from time to time as necessary to carry out this chapter; or

(2)transfer to a trustee appointed by the court, for the benefit of claimants—

(A)the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight; and

(B)an amount, or approved security, that the court may fix from time to time as necessary to carry out this chapter.

(c)When an action has been brought under this section and the owner has complied with subsection (b), all claims and proceedings against the owner related to the matter in question shall cease.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3051146 App.:185.R.S. § 4285; June 5, 1936, ch. 521, § 3, 49 Stat. 1480. In subsection (a), the words “bring a civil action . . . in a district court of the United States” are substituted for “petition a district court of the United States” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. See rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 App. U.S.C.). The words “of competent jurisdiction” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (b), the word “pending” before “freight” is added for consistency in the chapter. The words “to carry out this chapter” are substituted for “to carry out the provisions of section 183 of this Appendix” because of the reorganization of the source provisions.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–263 renumbered section 30511 of this title as this section.

§30529 Action by owner for limitation