---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 9802"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "9802"
heading: "Admiralty claims against the United States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/9802"
units:
  - "Subtitle D — Air Force and Space Force"
  - "Part IV — Service, Supply, and Procurement"
  - "Chapter 981 — Military Claims"
---

# §9802. Admiralty claims against the United States

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/10/9511.md?p=10) of the Air Force may settle or compromise an admiralty claim against the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) for—
  - (1) damage caused by a vessel of, or in the service of, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force or by other property under the jurisdiction of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force;
  - (2) compensation for towage and salvage service, including contract salvage, rendered to a vessel of, or in the service of, the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force or to other property under the jurisdiction of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force; or
  - (3) damage caused by a maritime tort committed by any agent or employee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force or by property under the jurisdiction of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force.
- (b) If a claim under [subsection (a)](#a) is settled or compromised for $500,000 or less, the [Secretary](/usc/10/9511.md?p=10) of the Air Force may [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) it. If it is settled or compromised for more than $500,000, he shall certify it to Congress.
- (c) In any case where the amount to be paid is not more than $100,000, the [Secretary](/usc/10/9511.md?p=10) of the Air Force may delegate his authority under [subsection (a)](#a) to any [person](/usc/10/9511.md?p=1) in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of the Air Force designated by him.

## Source credit

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 592; Pub. L. 89–67, July 7, 1965, 79 Stat. 212; Pub. L. 92–417, § 1(6), Aug. 29, 1972, 86 Stat. 655; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1633, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1608.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 9802(a)<br>9802(b)<br>9802(c) | 10:1861 (less 35 words before 1st proviso, and less last proviso).<br>10:1861 (last proviso).<br>10:1866 (as applicable to 10:1861). | Oct. 20, 1951, ch. 524, §§ 1 (less 35 words before 1st proviso), 6 (as applicable to § 1), 65 Stat. 572, 573. |

In subsection (a), the words “consider, ascertain, adjust, determine, compromise” are omitted as covered by the word “settle”, as defined in section 9801 of this title. 10:1861 (1st proviso) is omitted as unnecessary, since other applicable claims laws are restated in this title. 10:1861 (2d proviso) is omitted as surplusage.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “$100,000” for “$10,000”.

1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–417 substituted “Admiralty claims against the United States” for “Damage by United States vessels, towage and salvage of United States vessels” in section catchline, in text preceding par. (1), struck out requirement that the Secretary of the Air Force discharge his functions under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, in par. (1), inserted “or by other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force”, in par. (2), inserted “or to other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force”, and added par. (3).

1965—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–67 substituted “$10,000” for “$1,000”.