The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-07
Liability OF ship Owners.

The following act in regard 10 the liabilities OF
American ship owners has passed both branches Of
Congress, and become law
A BIZ % Limit he Liap II Ship Ogners and for other
Puyposes
Be u enacted by the Senate and House Of Rsprsssn.
tstiv-s Of the United States OF America In Congress
assembled; That no owner or owners of any sh , or
yes-l shall be subject liable TO answer make good
TO any one or more person or persons any loss or
damage which may happen TO any goods nerchsu-
oiss Whatsoever which shall be shipped taken In
put en- board any such ship vessel BY by
chip vessel unless such 10 caused by the design
or neglect OF such owner or owners: Provided, That
nothing 10 this act contained shall the parties
from making sueh contract as they please extending
or limiting the liability Of ship owners
Sec. z And b. it further enssted, u any pper or
shippers Of platina gold gold dust, silver bullion, or
other precious metals coins ewelry bills OF any bank
or public body, diamonds or other precious stones,
shs lsde IL. came on bosrd any ship or vessel with
out at the time Of euch ladns giving to the sster
agent osnsr or owners OF the chip vessel receiving
tn. same note in writing Of the true character snd
lseing therefor. the master aud owner owners OF
said vessel shall rot be abl. c1rrer. in any form
liable fer any such valuable goods beyond the valae and
according to the character thereof so notified and
entered.
See. B. And be It further enacted, The liability Of
the osner owners Of any ship or vessel for any
b'zrsment Ices OF Destruction by the master officers
mariner passengers any other person or persons.
OF any property goods hspdiss sh ped put
on bosrd OF such snip or vessel for any loss dam
81. or injury b. collision or for any act, matter
Injured. without the priviiy or knoulsdgs Of such
owner or osner., shall in exceed the amount
or value Of the interest OF such owners
spectsesy In such ship vessel and her freight thea
pendipg
bsfzlsment, oss or obstruction ehsll b. suffered by
several freghters or owners of goods. wares mer.
chspeise, or any property vhstever, on the same
voyage, and the whole value Of the vessel and her
freignt for the voyage shall not be suclsnt 10 make
p.ssston TO each OF them they shA receive com.
pepsstion from the ownsr OF owners Of the ship or
Ina "a fL.fr asA
for that purpose the ssd ffeigbters and rvners OF
the property and the owner owners Of the ship or
vss,sl or any CT them, may take the appropriate
proceedings in any court Tor the purpose Of sppor.
tionipg toe .um Tor which the owner owner OF
any ship or ves,el may be liable among the parties
entitled thereto. Ard IL shall be deemed q sufcisnt
compliance With The requirements az this act, on
The part q suoh osners II he they shall transfer
HE their intsrtt n such vessel and freight for
beneat q such claimants. 20 trustee to be appoint.
I'd BY any Court ~ competent Jurisdiction 10
.o1n y, me person Or per.ons Who may prove
transfer, AL claims and proceedings against ths
owner or owners shall cesse
Sec b And be u further enacted That ehartsrer
or shsrtsr'r, ofsnJ ship vessel Ia he they
ths man victus and navigate such vessels a. bis
ther oHn expen, Or BY HE or their own procurement
sha be seemed he ewper or owners % sach vessel,
within the meaning Of thi. act such ship or VS.,
eel rhsn 20 chartered shsl be liable In the
nsr a. " navigztsd by the owner or oHners thereof
Sec. And be Il further enacted. Nothing in the
preceding sections shall be construed to take away 20
affect the remedy which any party may b. entitled
against the master, officers mariners for. on
count ofsny embszzlsment injury, loss ds.truc.
uop Of seeds -sies, merchandise er other property
put on board any ship vessel ascou3t Of any
nsgtgtDce fraud or other malvsrsaton Of srch mas
ter cfcers er mariners. respectively shall any
thing herein contained, lessen or tAke away sny
spon'tbiutJ 70 which any msster mariner Of any
ship Or vessel may nov BY Law Be liable notwithstagd
ifg'ueh master Or mariner may be an oraer or part
owner q TIE ship vssfel
sec. 7. and he i further enacted Any per son or
persons shipping OIL q vtriol unslacktd lime In
hammable mstchss o. aunporior In q ship or vessel
taking cargo for divers persons on freight without
deiittring ~ the time az hi note in writing
expressing the nature and character 81 such merchsn
Use 70 the master, nate. oicer person In charge
81 the lsdng Of the .hip vesss shall forfeit 10 the
Ubits6 states oue thousand doliars
This act shall not sppiJ ~ the ornsr or owners o.
any canal boat barge or Lighter any vessel o. an
De- criptioa whatsoever used in rver or iBlssd naT
gAtiQn.