‘‘(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. 
‘‘§ 30512. Liability as master, officer, or seaman not affected 
‘‘This chapter does not affect the liability of an individual as a master, 
officer, or seaman, even though the individual is also an owner of the vessel. 
‘‘CHAPTER 307—LIABILITY OF WATER CARRIERS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘30701.
Definition. 
‘‘30702.
Application. 
‘‘30703.
Bills of lading. 
‘‘30704.
Loading, stowage, custody, care, and delivery. 
‘‘30705.
Seaworthiness. 
‘‘30706.
Defenses. 
‘‘30707.
Criminal penalty. 
‘‘§ 30701. Definition 
‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘carrier’ means the owner, manager, charterer, 
agent, or master of a vessel. 
‘‘§ 30702. Application 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided, this chapter applies to 
a carrier engaged in the carriage of goods to or from any port in the United 
States. 
‘‘(b) LIVE ANIMALS.—Sections 30703 and 30704 of this title do not 
apply to the carriage of live animals. 
‘‘§ 30703. Bills of lading 
‘‘(a) ISSUANCE.—On demand of a shipper, the carrier shall issue a bill 
of lading or shipping document. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The bill of lading or shipping document shall include 
a statement of— 
‘‘(1) the marks necessary to identify the goods; 
‘‘(2) the number of packages, or the quantity or weight, and whether 
it is carrier’s or shipper’s weight; and 
‘‘(3) the apparent condition of the goods. 
‘‘(c) PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE OF RECEIPT.—A bill of lading or shipping 
document issued under this section is prima facie evidence of receipt of the 
goods described. 
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‘‘§ 30704. Loading, stowage, custody, care, and delivery 
‘‘A carrier may not insert in a bill of lading or shipping document a pro-
vision avoiding its liability for loss or damage arising from negligence or 
fault in loading, stowage, custody, care, or proper delivery. Any such provi-
sion is void. 
‘‘§ 30705. Seaworthiness 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—A carrier may not insert in a bill of lading or ship-
ping document a provision lessening or avoiding its obligation to exercise 
due diligence to— 
‘‘(1) make the vessel seaworthy; and 
‘‘(2) properly man, equip, and supply the vessel. 
‘‘(b) VOIDNESS.—A provision described in subsection (a) is void. 
‘‘§ 30706. Defenses 
‘‘(a) DUE DILIGENCE.—If a carrier has exercised due diligence to make 
the vessel in all respects seaworthy and to properly man, equip, and supply 
the vessel, the carrier and the vessel are not liable for loss or damage aris-
ing from an error in the navigation or management of the vessel. 
‘‘(b) OTHER DEFENSES.—A carrier and the vessel are not liable for loss 
or damage arising from— 
‘‘(1) dangers of the sea or other navigable waters; 
‘‘(2) acts of God; 
‘‘(3) public enemies; 
‘‘(4) seizure under legal process; 
‘‘(5) inherent defect, quality, or vice of the goods; 
‘‘(6) insufficiency of package; 
‘‘(7) act or omission of the shipper or owner of the goods or their 
agent; or 
‘‘(8) saving or attempting to save life or property at sea, including 
a deviation in rendering such a service. 
‘‘§ 30707. Criminal penalty 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A carrier that violates this chapter shall be fined 
under title 18. 
‘‘(b) LIEN.—The amount of the fine and costs for the violation constitute 
a lien on the vessel engaged in the carriage. A civil action in rem to enforce 
the lien may be brought in the district court of the United States for any 
district in which the vessel is found. 
‘‘(c) DISPOSITION OF FINE.—Half of the fine shall go to the person in-
jured by the violation and half to the United States Government. 
‘‘CHAPTER 309—SUITS IN ADMIRALTY AGAINST THE 
UNITED STATES 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘30901.
Short title. 
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‘‘30902.
Definition. 
‘‘30903.
Waiver of immunity. 
‘‘30904.
Exclusive remedy. 
‘‘30905.
Period for bringing action. 
‘‘30906.
Venue. 
‘‘30907.
Procedure for hearing and determination. 
‘‘30908.
Exemption from arrest or seizure. 
‘‘30909.
Security. 
‘‘30910.
Exoneration and limitation. 
‘‘30911.
Costs and interest. 
‘‘30912.
Arbitration, compromise, or settlement. 
‘‘30913.
Payment of judgment or settlement. 
‘‘30914.
Release of privately owned vessel after arrest or attachment. 
‘‘30915.
Seizures and other proceedings in foreign jurisdictions. 
‘‘30916.
Recovery by the United States for salvage services. 
‘‘30917.
Disposition of amounts recovered by the United States. 
‘‘30918.
Reports. 
‘‘§ 30901. Short title 
‘‘This chapter may be cited as the ‘Suits in Admiralty Act’. 
‘‘§ 30902. Definition 
‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘federally-owned corporation’ means a corpora-
tion in which the United States owns all the outstanding capital stock. 
‘‘§ 30903. Waiver of immunity 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In a case in which, if a vessel were privately owned 
or operated, or if cargo were privately owned or possessed, or if a private 
person or property were involved, a civil action in admiralty could be main-
tained, a civil action in admiralty in personam may be brought against the 
United States or a federally-owned corporation. In a civil action in admi-
ralty brought by the United States or a federally-owned corporation, an ad-
miralty claim in personam may be filed or a setoff claimed against the 
United States or corporation. 
‘‘(b) NON-JURY.—A claim against the United States or a federally-owned 
corporation under this section shall be tried without a jury. 
‘‘§ 30904. Exclusive remedy 
‘‘If a remedy is provided by this chapter, it shall be exclusive of any other 
action arising out of the same subject matter against the officer, employee, 
or agent of the United States or the federally-owned corporation whose act 
or omission gave rise to the claim. 
‘‘§ 30905. Period for bringing action 
‘‘A civil action under this chapter must be brought within 2 years after 
the cause of action arose. 
‘‘§ 30906. Venue 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A civil action under this chapter shall be brought in 
the district court of the United States for the district in which— 
‘‘(1) any plaintiff resides or has its principal place of business; or 
‘‘(2) the vessel or cargo is found. 
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‘‘(b) TRANSFER.—On a motion by a party, the court may transfer the 
action to any other district court of the United States. 
‘‘§ 30907. Procedure for hearing and determination 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A civil action under this chapter shall proceed and 
be heard and determined according to the principles of law and the rules 
of practice applicable in like cases between private parties. 
‘‘(b) IN REM.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS.—The action may proceed according to the 
principles of an action in rem if— 
‘‘(A) the plaintiff elects in the complaint; and 
‘‘(B) it appears that an action in rem could have been main-
tained had the vessel or cargo been privately owned and possessed. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT ON RELIEF IN PERSONAM.—An election under para-
graph (1) does not prevent the plaintiff from seeking relief in personam 
in the same action. 
‘‘§ 30908. Exemption from arrest or seizure 
‘‘The following are not subject to arrest or seizure by judicial process in 
the United States: 
‘‘(1) A vessel owned by, possessed by, or operated by or for the 
United States or a federally-owned corporation. 
‘‘(2) Cargo owned or possessed by the United States or a federally- 
owned corporation. 
‘‘§ 30909. Security 
‘‘Neither the United States nor a federally-owned corporation may be re-
quired to give a bond or admiralty stipulation in a civil action under this 
chapter. 
‘‘§ 30910. Exoneration and limitation 
‘‘The United States is entitled to the exemptions from and limitations of 
liability provided by law to an owner, charterer, operator, or agent of a ves-
sel. 
‘‘§ 30911. Costs and interest 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A judgment against the United States or a federally- 
owned corporation under this chapter may include costs and interest at the 
rate of 4 percent per year until satisfied. Interest shall run as ordered by 
the court, except that interest is not allowable for the period before the ac-
tion is filed. 
‘‘(b) CONTRACT PROVIDING FOR INTEREST.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(a), if the claim is based on a contract providing for interest, interest may 
be awarded at the rate and for the period provided in the contract. 
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