Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73
§4705 Liability of barge removal contractors
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - BARGES › § 4705
Summary
Companies and subcontractors removing barges aren't liable for damages from removal work, except for injuries or deaths, extreme carelessness, or intentional wrongdoing.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §4705
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A barge removal contractor and its subcontractor are not liable for damages that result from actions taken or omitted to be taken in the course of removing a barge under this subchapter.
(b)Subsection (a) does not apply—
(1)with respect to personal injury or wrongful death; or
(2)if the contractor or subcontractor is grossly negligent or engages in willful misconduct.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60 substituted “subchapter” for “chapter”. 2006—Pub. L. 109–304 in subsec. (a) struck out par. (1) designation before “A barge removal” and substituted “subcontractor are not” for “subcontractor not”, redesignated par. (2) as subsec. (b) and subpars. (A) and (B) of former par. (2) as pars. (1) and (2) of subsec. (b), respectively, and substituted “Subsection (a)” for “Paragraph (1)”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 4705
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73