Title 46 — Shipping
Part A · Chapter 23 — Operation of Vessels Generally
§ 2304. Duty to provide assistance at sea
Statutory text
A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master’s or individual’s vessel or individuals on board.
Paragraph (1) does not apply to a vessel of war or a vessel owned by the United States Government appropriated only to a public service.
A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 98–89 · 97 Stat. 500
Enacted · 46 U.S.C. § 2304
Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 509
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 509Pub. L. 109–304 § 15(8) · 120 Stat. 1485
Amended · 46 U.S.C. § 2304(a)
Pub. L. 109–304 designated existing provisions as par. (1)
Added · 46 U.S.C. § 2304(a)
Pub. L. 109–304 added par. (2)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–304 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(8) In section 2304— (A) insert the paragraph designation “(1)” after “(a)”; and (B) insert at the end of subsection (a) the following new paragraph: “(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to a vessel of war or a vessel owned by the United States Government appropriated only to a public service.” .
2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Notes
historicalAndRevision
| Historical and Revision Notes | |
|---|---|
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 2304 | 46:728 |
Section 2304 requires a master or individual in charge of a vessel to render assistance to those in danger at sea if able to do so without seriously endangering the vessel or crew.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–304 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Credits
1983–2006 · 2 acts
- 1983Pub. L. 98–89, , 97 Stat. 509
- 2006Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(8), , 120 Stat. 1703.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 98–89, , 97 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(8), , 120 Stat. 1703.)