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Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102

§2303 Duties Related to Marine Casualty Assistance and Information

Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part A — General Provisions › CHAPTER 23 — OPERATION OF VESSELS GENERALLY › § 2303

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Masters or people in charge of a vessel involved in a marine accident must help anyone in danger if they can do so without putting their own vessel or the people on it in serious danger. They must also give their name, address, and the vessel’s identity to the other vessel’s master, to anyone hurt, and to the owner of any damaged property. If someone breaks these rules, they can be fined up to $1,000 or jailed for up to 2 years, and the vessel can be held responsible to the U.S. Government for the fine. A person who freely and in good faith helps at the scene, without the helped person objecting, is not liable for damages from that help if they acted as a reasonable person would under the circumstances.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §2303

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The master or individual in charge of a vessel involved in a marine casualty shall—
(1)render necessary assistance to each individual affected to save that affected individual from danger caused by the marine casualty, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master’s or individual’s vessel or to individuals on board; and
(2)give the master’s or individual’s name and address and identification of the vessel to the master or individual in charge of any other vessel involved in the casualty, to any individual injured, and to the owner of any property damaged.
(b)An individual violating this section or a regulation prescribed under this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years. The vessel also is liable in rem to the United States Government for the fine.
(c)An individual complying with subsection (a) of this section or gratuitously and in good faith rendering assistance at the scene of a marine casualty without objection by an individual assisted, is not liable for damages as a result of rendering assistance or for an act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance when the individual acts as an ordinary, reasonable, and prudent individual would have acted under the circumstances.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 2303(a)33:36746:1465(a) 2303(b)33:368 2303(c)46:1465(b) section 2303 requires a master or anyone in charge of a vessel to provide assistance and render aid to those involved in a marine casualty and to exchange information in a manner similar to automobile accident cases. It also includes a “Good Samaritan” clause that exonerates anyone from liability when rendering assistance in an ordinary, reasonable, or prudent manner.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 2303

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102