---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 30529"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "30529"
heading: "Action by owner for limitation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/30529"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 305 — Exoneration and Limitation of Liability"
  - "Subchapter II — Exoneration and Limitation of Liability"
---

# §30529. Action by owner for limitation

- (a) **In General.—** The [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2) of a vessel may bring a civil action in a [district court](/usc/46/31301.md?p=2) 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](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2) written notice of a claim.
- (b) **Creation of Fund.—** When the action is brought, the [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2) (at the [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2)’s option) shall—
  - (1) deposit with the court, for the benefit of claimants—
    - (A) an amount equal to the value of the [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2)’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](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2)’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](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2) has complied with [subsection (b)](#b), all claims and proceedings against the [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2) related to the matter in question shall cease.

## Source credit

(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.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>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 Notes

### Amendments

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