---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31104"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31104"
heading: "Venue"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31104"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 311 — Suits Involving Public Vessels"
---

# §31104. Venue

- (a) **In General.—** A civil action under this chapter shall be brought in the [district court](/usc/46/31301.md?p=2) of the United States for the district in which the vessel or cargo is found within the United States.
- (b) **Vessel or Cargo Outside Territorial Waters.—** If the vessel or cargo is outside the territorial waters of the United States—
  - (1) the action shall be brought in the [district court](/usc/46/31301.md?p=2) of the United States for any district in which any plaintiff resides or has an office for the transaction of business; or
  - (2) if no plaintiff resides or has an office for the transaction of business in the United States, the action may be brought in the [district court](/usc/46/31301.md?p=2) of the United States for any district.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1521.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 31104 | 46 App.:782 (1st sentence). | Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 428, § 2 (1st sentence), 43 Stat. 1112. |

In subsection (a), the words “charged with creating the liability” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (b)(2), the words “in the United States” are omitted as unnecessary.