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46 U.S.C. § 30523 — General limit of liability
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** Except as provided in [section 30524 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title46-section30524&num=0&edition=prelim), the liability of the owner of a vessel for any claim, debt, or liability described in subsection (b) shall not exceed the value of the vessel and pending freight. If the vessel has more than one owner, the proportionate share of the liability of any one owner shall not exceed that owner’s proportionate interest in the vessel and pending freight.
**(b) Claims Subject to Limitation.—** Unless otherwise excluded by law, claims, debts, and liabilities subject to limitation under subsection (a) are those arising from any embezzlement, loss, or destruction of any property, goods, or merchandise shipped or put on board the vessel, any loss, damage, or injury by collision, or any act, matter, or thing, loss, damage, or forfeiture, done, occasioned, or incurred, without the privity or knowledge of the owner.
**(c) Wages.—** Subsection (a) does not apply to a claim for wages.
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Source location: Title 46, Chapter 305, § 30523; chapter-305-exoneration-and-limitation-of-liability.md
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**(a) In General.—** Except as provided in [section 30524 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title46-section30524&num=0&edition=prelim), the liability of the owner of a vessel for any claim, debt, or liability described in subsection (b) shall not exceed the value of the vessel and pending freight. If the vessel has more than one owner, the proportionate share of the liability of any one owner shall not exceed that owner’s proportionate interest in the vessel and pending freight.
**(b) Claims Subject to Limitation.—** Unless otherwise excluded by law, claims, debts, and liabilities subject to limitation under subsection (a) are those arising from any embezzlement, loss, or destruction of any property, goods, or merchandise shipped or put on board the vessel, any loss, damage, or injury by collision, or any act, matter, or thing, loss, damage, or forfeiture, done, occasioned, or incurred, without the privity or knowledge of the owner.
**(c) Wages.—** Subsection (a) does not apply to a claim for wages.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Application.—** This section applies only to seagoing vessels, but does not apply to pleasure yachts, tugs, towboats, towing vessels, tank vessels, fishing vessels, fish tender vessels, canal boats, scows, car floats, barges, lighters, or nondescript vessels.
**(b) Minimum Liability.—** If the amount of the vessel owner’s liability determined under [section 30523 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title46-section30523&num=0&edition=prelim) is insufficient to pay all losses in full, and the portion available to pay claims for personal injury or death is less than $420 times the tonnage of the vessel, that portion shall be increased to $420 times the tonnage of the vessel. That portion may be used only to pay claims for personal injury or death.
**(c) Calculation of Tonnage.—** Under subsection (b), the tonnage of a self-propelled vessel is the gross tonnage without deduction for engine room, and the tonnage of a sailing vessel is the tonnage for documentation. However, space for the use of seamen is excluded.
**(d) Claims Arising on Distinct Occasions.—** Separate limits of liability apply to claims for personal injury or death arising on distinct occasions.
**(e) Privity or Knowledge.—** In a claim for personal injury or death, the privity or knowledge of the master or the owner’s superintendent or managing agent, at or before the beginning of each voyage, is imputed to the owner.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 46 U.S.C. § 30524
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Nothing in sections 4283, 4284, 4285, 4286, or 4289 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, nor in section 18 of the Act entitled “An act to remove certain burdens on the American merchant marine and encourage the American foreign carrying trade, and for other purposes,” approved June 26, 1884, as amended, shall be held to limit the amount for which recovery may be had (1) in any suit at law or in admiralty where an employer has failed to secure compensation as required by this chapter, or (2) in any proceeding for compensation, any addition to compensation, or any civil penalty.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 33 U.S.C. § 948
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
If the amounts determined under sections 30523 and 30524 of this title are insufficient to pay all claims—
(1) all claimants shall be paid in proportion to their respective losses out of the amount determined under [section 30523 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title46-section30523&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(2) personal injury and death claimants, if any, shall be paid an additional amount in proportion to their respective losses out of the additional amount determined under [section 30524(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title46-section30524/b&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 46 U.S.C. § 30525
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 259
TITLE 46—SHIPPING
§ 30524
merchandise whatsoever, which shall be shipped, taken
in, or put on board any such vessel’’, and the words
‘‘caused by a fire on the vessel’’ are substituted for ‘‘by
reason or by means of any fire happening to or on board
the vessel’’, to eliminate unnecessary words.
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2022—Pub. L. 117–263 renumbered section 30504 of this
title as this section.
§ 30523. General limit of liability
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in section
30524 of this title, the liability of the owner of a
vessel for any claim, debt, or liability described
in subsection (b) shall not exceed the value of
the vessel and pending freight. If the vessel has
more than one owner, the proportionate share of
the liability of any one owner shall not exceed
that owner’s proportionate interest in the vessel
and pending freight.
(b) CLAIMS
SUBJECT
TO
LIMITATION.—Unless
otherwise excluded by law, claims, debts, and li-
abilities subject to limitation under subsection
(a) are those arising from any embezzlement,
loss, or destruction of any property, goods, or
merchandise shipped or put on board the vessel,
any loss, damage, or injury by collision, or any
act, matter, or thing, loss, damage, or for-
feiture, done, occasioned, or incurred, without
the privity or knowledge of the owner.
(c) WAGES.—Subsection (a) does not apply to a
claim for wages.
(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1513,
§ 30505; renumbered § 30523 and amended Pub. L.
117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11503(a)(3), (f)(2), Dec.
23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4130, 4131.)
HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised
Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
30505 ..........
46 App.:183(a).
R.S. § 4283(a); Aug. 29, 1935,
ch. 804, § 1, 49 Stat. 960;
J
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 46 U.S.C. § 30523
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