---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31303"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31303"
heading: "Certain civil actions not authorized"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31303"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 313 — Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §31303. Certain civil actions not authorized


If a mortgage covers a vessel and additional property that is not a vessel, this chapter does not authorize a civil action in rem to enforce the rights of the [mortgagee](/usc/46/31301.md?p=3) under the mortgage against the additional property.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4740.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 31303 | 46:954(b) |

Section 31303 makes it clear that, if a mortgage covers a vessel and additional property that is not a vessel, this chapter does not authorize a civil action in rem in admiralty to enforce rights against the additional property. This section makes no substantive change to law.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.