Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§4705 Liability of Barge Removal Contractors
Title 46 › Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen › Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › CHAPTER 47 — ABANDONMENT OF VESSELS › SUBCHAPTER I — BARGES › § 4705
Summary
Barge-removal contractors and their subcontractors are not responsible for damage that happens because of what they do or fail to do while removing a barge under this law. That protection does not apply if someone is hurt or killed, or if the contractor or subcontractor is extremely careless or intentionally does something wrong.
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102