Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§30705 Seaworthiness

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - Maritime Liability › Chapter CHAPTER 307— - LIABILITY OF WATER CARRIERS › § 30705

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §30705

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A carrier may not insert in a bill of lading or shipping document a provision lessening or avoiding its obligation to exercise due diligence to—
(1)make the vessel seaworthy; and
(2)properly man, equip, and supply the vessel.
(b)A provision described in subsection (a) is void.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3070546 App.:191.Feb. 13, 1893, ch. 105, § 2, 27 Stat. 445. In subsection (a), before paragraph (1), the words “transporting merchandise or property from or between ports of the United States of America and foreign ports” are omitted because of section 30702(a) of the revised title. The words “may not” are substituted for “It shall not be lawful . . . to”, the word “provision” is substituted for “covenant or agreement”, and the words “lessening or avoiding its obligation” are substituted for “whereby the obligations . . . shall in any wise be lessened, weakened, or avoided”, to eliminate unnecessary words. In paragraph (1), the words “and capable of performing her intended voyage” are omitted as unnecessary. In paragraph (2), the word “supply” is substituted for “provision, and outfit” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “or whereby the obligations of the master, officers, agents, or servants to carefully handle and stow her cargo and to care for and properly deliver same” are omitted as covered by section 30704 of the revised title. Subsection (b) is added for clarity and for consistency with section 30704 of the revised title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 30705

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73