---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 53904"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "53904"
heading: "Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/53904"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Merchant Marine"
  - "Part C — Financial Assistance Programs"
  - "Chapter 539 — War Risk Insurance"
---

# §53904. Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8) of Transportation may provide insurance under this chapter against legal liability that a [person](/usc/46/53101.md?p=6) may incur in providing services or facilities for a [vessel](/usc/46/53501.md?p=9) if, in the opinion of the [Secretary](/usc/46/53101.md?p=8), the insurance—
  - (1) is required in prosecuting a war or for national defense; and
  - (2) cannot be obtained at reasonable rates or on reasonable terms and conditions from approved companies authorized to do insurance business in a State of the [United States](/usc/46/53101.md?p=10).
- (b) **Limitations.—** Employer liability insurance and worker compensation insurance against legal liability to employees may not be provided under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1628.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 53904 | 46 App.:1286. | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XII, § 1206, as added Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 906, 64 Stat. 774; Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 929, § 5, 70 Stat. 986. |

In subsection (a), the words “a vessel” are substituted for “any American- or foreign-flag vessel, public or private” to eliminate unnecessary words.