PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

A vessel owner can go to a U.S. district court to limit how much they must pay. The owner must start the case within 6 months after a claimant gives written notice of a claim. The owner can choose to either deposit with the court, or transfer to a court-appointed trustee, the value of the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight (or approved security) plus any extra amount or security the court requires. Once the owner does this, other claims or lawsuits about the same matter must stop.

Title 46, §30529

Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

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)Creation of Fund.—

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)Cessation of Other Actions.—

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