U.S. Code » Title 46 » Subtitle Subtitle III— Maritime Liability › Chapter CHAPTER 305— EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

46 U.S.C. § 30529

Action by owner for limitation

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(a)In General.—The owner of a vessel may bring a civil action in a district court of the United States for limitation of liability under this chapter. The action must be brought within 6 months after a claimant gives the owner written notice of a claim.(b)Creation of Fund.—When the action is brought, the owner (at the owner’s option) shall—(1) deposit with the court, for the benefit of claimants—(A) an amount equal to the value of the owner’s interest in the vessel and pending freight, or approved security; and(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.(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1515, § 30511; renumbered § 30529, Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXV, § 11503(a)(3), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4130.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

30511

46 App.:185.

R.S. § 4285; June 5, 1936, ch. 521, § 3, 49 Stat. 1480.

In subsection (a), the words “bring a civil action . . . in a district court of the United States” are substituted for “petition a district court of the United States” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. See rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 App. U.S.C.). The words “of competent jurisdiction” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (b), the word “pending” before “freight” is added for consistency in the chapter. The words “to carry out this chapter” are substituted for “to carry out the provisions of section 183 of this Appendix” because of the reorganization of the source provisions.

Editorial NotesAmendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–263 renumbered section 30511 of this title as this section.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 49 cases (49 in the last 5 years), 2023–2026 · leading case: Williams Sports Rentals Inc. v. Marian Willis, 90 F.4th 1032 (9th Cir. 2024).
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Williams Sports Rentals Inc. v. Marian Willis, 90 F.4th 1032 (9th Cir. 2024). · cites it 2× “” 46 U.S.C. § 30529 (c); see also Fed. R. Civ.”
Live Life Bella Vita, LLC v. Cruising Yachts, Inc., 115 F.4th 1188 (9th Cir. 2024). · cites it 3× “46 U.S.C. § 30529 (a); Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp.”
Wooley v. N&W Marine Towing, 90 F.4th 724 (5th Cir. 2024). “§ 30511 was renumbered as 46 U.S.C. § 30529 . For consistency in this case, we use the prior statutory section numbers; the relevant statutory text did not change.”
In the Matter of the Complaint of Ed Seganti (E.D.N.Y 2024). · cites it 6× “CHOUDHURY, United States District Judge: Petitioner Ed Seganti (“Seganti”), the owner of a 2018 thirty-foot long Cobia 301CC motorboat (the “Vessel”), commenced this action pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30529 to limit liability for claims arising out of a May 29, 2022 accident.”
Genesis Marine v. Darrow (5th Cir. 2026). · cites it 6× “Darrow filed an opposed motion for summary judgment, arguing that Genesis’s limitation lawsuit was untimely under 46 U.S.C. § 30529 (a) because it was filed more than six months after Genesis had received written notice that there was a reasonable possibility that Darrow’s…”
In the Matter of the Complaint of Ed Seganti (2d Cir. 2025). · cites it 5× “The district court held that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction because Seganti’s petition was untimely under § 30529(a). But § 30529(a) is a claim- processing rule that does not implicate the subject matter jurisdiction of a court.”
In the Matter of Alsem Constr. LLC (E.D. La. 2024). · cites it 4× “In the present Motion, Claimants assert the Limitation Petitioner’s Limitation Complaint filed on January 20, 2023, was untimely because it was not filed within the six-month period prescribed by 46 U.S.C. § 30529 (a) and Supplemental Admiralty Rule F(1).”
G&J Fisheries, Inc. v. Costa, 67 F.4th 20 (1st Cir. 2023). “"1 See 46 U.S.C. § 30529 (a) (formerly 46 U.S.C.”
Trey Wooley v. N&W Marine Towing, 83 F.4th 329 (5th Cir. 2023). “§ 30511 was renumbered as 46 U.S.C. § 30529 . For consistency, we use the prior statutory section numbers; the relevant statutory text did not change.”
In the Matter of the Complaint of Oceansound Investments (S.D. Cal. 2023). · cites it 3× “See 46 U.S.C. § 30529 ; 28 U.S.C. § 1333 (1); Fed.”
In re: In the Matter of Texas Petroleum Inv. Co. (E.D. La. 2026). · cites it 3× “10 On September 26, 2024, Petitioner filed a Verified Complaint for Exoneration From or Limitation of Liability in this Court, seeking exoneration from or limitation of liability, civil and maritime, pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 30529 , et seq, Rule 9(h), and Rule F of the…”
Skanska USA Civil Se., Inc. & Skanska USA v. Bagelheads, Inc. (11th Cir. 2023). · cites it 2× “” 46 U.S.C. § 30529 (c); Supplemental Rule F(3); Beiswenger Enters.”
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