46 U.S.C. § 80107 — Salvors of life to share in remuneration

Page 601 TITLE 46—SHIPPING § 80107 Pacific coast of the United States, in any por- tion of the Great Lakes or their connecting or tributary waters, including any portion of the Saint Lawrence River through which the inter- national boundary line extends, or in territorial waters of the United States on the Gulf of Mex- ico. (b) WHEN SUITABLE VESSEL NOT AVAILABLE.— The Secretary of Homeland Security may au- thorize a foreign vessel to engage in salvaging operations in a particular locality if, on inves- tigation, the Secretary is satisfied that there is not available in that locality a suitable vessel that is— (1) owned only by citizens of the United States (including a Bowaters corporation under section 12118 of this title); and (2) documented under chapter 121 of this title or numbered under chapter 123 of this title. (c) OPERATIONS AUTHORIZED BY TREATY.—This section does not prohibit or restrict assistance to vessels or salvaging operations authorized by treaty, including— (1) article II of the Treaty between the United States and Great Britain concerning reciprocal rights for United States and Canada in the conveyance of prisoners and wrecking and salvage, signed at Washington, May 18, 1908 (35 Stat. 2036); or (2) the Treaty between the United States of America and Mexico to facilitate assistance to and salvage of vessels in territorial waters, signed at Mexico City, June 13, 1935 (49 Stat. 3359). (Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1691.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 80104(a) ...... 46 App.:316(d) (words before pro- viso). R.S. § 4370(d), (e); June 11, 1940, ch. 324, 54 Stat. 305. 80104(b) ...... 46 App.:316(d) (pro- viso). 80104(c) ...... 46 App.:316(e). In subsection (a), the words ‘‘authorized by a treaty’’ are omitted because they are restated in subsection (c). In subsection (b), before paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security is substituted for the Commis- sioner of Customs because the functions of the Customs Service and of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto were transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 403(1) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–296, 116 Stat. 2178). The func- tions of the Commissioner of Customs previously were vested in the Secretary of the Treasury under section 321(c) of title 31. For prior related transfers of func- tions, see the transfer of functions note under 46 App. U.S.C. 316. The words ‘‘and no penalty shall be incurred for such authorized use’’ are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (b)(1), the words ‘‘(including a Bowaters corporation under section 12118 of this title)’’ are added because the source for section 12118 (46 App. U.S.C. 883–1) provides that a corporation meeting the require- ments of that section is also a citizen of the United States under 46 App. U.S.C. 316, restated in part in this section. Subsection (b)(2) is substituted for ‘‘documented under the laws of the United States or numbered pursu- ant to the Act of June 7, 1918, as amended (46 U.S.C. 288)’’ to refer to the current provisions on documenta- tion and numbering. In subsection (c), the words ‘‘authorized by treaty, in- cluding’’ are added because the words ‘‘authorized by a treaty’’ are omitted from subsection (a). § 80105. Canadian vessels aiding vessels in United States waters (a) IN GENERAL.—Canadian vessels and wreck- ing equipment may give aid to Canadian or other vessels and property wrecked, disabled, or in distress in the waters of the United States contiguous to Canada, including— (1) the canal and improvement of the waters between Lake Erie and Lake Huron; and (2) the Saint Marys River and canal. (b) RECIPROCITY.—This section does not apply after the President proclaims that privileges re- ciprocal to those under subsection (a) have been withdrawn or rendered inoperative by the Gov- ernment of Canada. (Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1691.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 80105 .......... 46 App.:725. June 19, 1878, ch. 324, 20 Stat. 175; May 24, 1890, ch. 292, 26 Stat. 120; Mar. 3, 1893, ch. 211, § 1 (last par. under heading ‘‘Depart- ment of State’’), 27 Stat. 683. In subsection (a), before paragraph (1), the word ‘‘equipment’’ is substituted for ‘‘appurtenance’’ to use more commonly understood language. The words ‘‘and assistance’’ are omitted as unnecessary. Subsection (b) is substituted for ‘‘this section shall cease to be in force and effect from and after the date of the proclamation of the President of the United States to the effect that said reciprocol privilege has been withdrawn, revoked, or rendered inoperative by the said Government of the Dominion of Canada’’ to eliminate unnecessary words. § 80106. International agreement on derelicts The President may make an international agreement with other governments interested in the navigation of the North Atlantic Ocean, pro- viding for the reporting, marking, and removal of dangerous wrecks, derelicts, and other men- aces to navigation outside the coast waters of the countries bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. (Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1691.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 80106 .......... 46 App.:726. Oct. 31, 1893, No. 13, 28 Stat. 13. § 80107. Salvors of life to share in remuneration (a) ENTITLEMENT OF SALVORS.—A salvor of human life, who gave aid following an accident giving rise to salvage, is entitled to a fair share of the payment awarded to the salvor for sal- vaging the vessel or other property or pre- venting or minimizing damage to the environ- ment. (b) COMMON OWNERSHIP OF VESSELS.—The right to remuneration for aid or salvage services is not affected by common ownership of the vessels giving and receiving the aid or salvage services. Page 602 TITLE 46—SHIPPING § 80301 (c) TIME LIMIT ON BRINGING ACTIONS.—A civil action to recover remuneration for giving aid or salvage services must be brought within 2 years after the date the aid or salvage services were given, unless the court in which the action is brought is satisfied that during that 2-year pe- riod there had not been a reasonable oppor- tunity to seize the aided or salvaged vessel with- in the jurisdiction of the court or within the ter- ritorial waters of the country of the plaintiff’s residence or principal place of business. (d) NONAPPLICATION.—This section does not apply to a vessel of war or a vessel owned by the United States Government appropriated only to a public service. (Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1691.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 80107(a) ...... 46 App.:729. Aug. 1, 1912, ch. 268, §§ 1, 3–5, 37 Stat. 242; Pub. L. 102–241, § 40, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2225. 80107(b) ...... 46 App.:727. 80107(c) ...... 46 App.:730. 80107(d) ...... 46 App.:731. In subsection (c), the words ‘‘civil action’’ are sub- stituted for ‘‘suit’’, the words ‘‘must be brought within 2 years after’’ are substituted for ‘‘shall not be main- tainable if brought later than two years from’’, and the word ‘‘seize’’ is substituted for ‘‘arresting’’, for consist- ency in the revised title. The words ‘‘of the plaintiff’s residence or principal place of business’’ are sub- stituted for ‘‘in which the libelant resides or has his principal place of business’’ for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsectoin [sic] (d), the reference to section 2304 of title 46 is omitted because of the amendment to section 2304 in section 14(8) of the bill. CHAPTER 803—ICE AND DERELICTS Sec. 80301. International agreements. 80302. Patrol services. 80303. Speed of vessel in ice region. 80304. Limitation on ice patrol data. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2014—Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 314(b), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3049, added item 80304. § 80301. International agreements (a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The President may make agreements with interested maritime countries to— (1) maintain in the North Atlantic Ocean a service of ice patrol, of study and observation of ice and current conditions, and of assist- ance to vessels and their crews requiring as- sistance within the limits of the patrol; (2) maintain a service of study and observa- tion of ice and current conditions in the wa- ters affecting the set and drift of ice in the North Atlantic Ocean; and (3) take all practicable steps to ensure the destruction or removal of derelicts in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, east of the line drawn from Cape Sable to a point in latitude 34 degrees north, longitude 70 degrees west, if the destruction or removal is nec- essary. (b) PAYMENT BETWEEN COUNTRIES.—The Presi- dent may include in an agreement under sub- section (a) a provision for— (1) payment to the United States Govern- ment by other countries for their propor- tionate share of the expense of maintaining the services; or (2) contribution by the Government for its proportionate share if the agreement provides for another country to maintain the services. (c) PAYMENTS.—Payments received pursuant to subsection (b)(1) shall be credited to the ap- propriation for operations and support of the Coast Guard. (Pub. L. 109–304, § 11, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1692; Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 314(a)(1), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3049; Pub. L. 116–283, div. G, title LVXXXV [LXXXV], § 8513(b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4761.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 80301 .......... 46 App.:738. June 25, 1936, ch. 807, § 1, 49 Stat. 1922. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2021—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted ‘‘oper- ations and support’’ for ‘‘operating expenses’’. 2014—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–281 added subsec. (c). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2014 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 113–281, title III, § 314(c), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 3049, provided that: ‘‘This section [enacting sec- tion 80304 of this title and amending this section and section 80302 of this title] shall take effect on January 1, 2017.’’ § 80302. Patrol services (a) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—Unless the agreements made under section 80301 of this title provide otherwise, an ice patrol shall be maintained during the entire ice season in guarding the southeastern, southern, and south- western limits of the region of icebergs in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. The patrol shall inform trans-Atlantic and other passing vessels by radio and other available means of the ice conditions and the extent of the dangerous region. During the ice season, there shall be maintained a service of study of ice and current conditions, a service of pro- viding assistance to vessels and crews requiring assistance, and a service of removing and de- stroying derelicts. Any of these services may be maintained during the remainder of the year as may be advisable. (b) WARNINGS TO VESSELS.—The ice patrol shall warn any vessel known to be approaching a dangerous area and recommend safe routes. (c) RECORDING AND REPORTING INCIDENTS.— (1) RECORDING.—The ice patrol shall record the name of a vessel and the facts of the case when the patrol observes or knows that the vessel— (A) is on other than a regular recognized or advertised route crossing the North At- lantic Ocean;