Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73not60
§2304 Duty to Provide Assistance at Sea
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part A— General Provisions › Chapter 23— OPERATION OF VESSELS GENERALLY › § 2304
Summary
A ship’s captain or person in charge must help anyone found at sea who is in danger of being lost, as long as giving help does not put the ship or people on board in serious danger. That duty does not apply to warships or U.S. government ships used only for public service. If the captain fails to help when required, they can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to 2 years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §2304
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master’s or individual’s vessel or individuals on board.
(2)Paragraph (1) does not apply to a vessel of war or a vessel owned by the United States Government appropriated only to a public service.
(b)A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 230446:728 section 2304 requires a master or individual in charge of a vessel to render assistance to those in danger at sea if able to do so without seriously endangering the vessel or crew.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–304 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 2304
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60