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46 U.S.C. 30916: Recovery by the United States for salvage servicesText contains those laws in effect through Public Law 119-120 (October 7, 2026).
From Title 46-SHIPPINGCHAPTER 309-SUITS IN ADMIRALTY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
Jump To: Source CreditHistorical and Revision Notes

§30916. Recovery by the United States for salvage services

(a)  Civil Action.⁠—The United States, and the crew of a merchant vessel owned or operated by the United States, or a federally-owned corporation, may bring a civil action to recover for salvage services provided by the vessel and crew.

(b)  Deposit of Amounts Recovered.⁠—Any amount recovered under this section by the United States for its own benefit, and not for the benefit of the crew, shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the department of the United States Government, or the corporation, having control of the possession or operation of the vessel.

( Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c) , Oct. 6, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1520 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

30916

46 App.:750.

Mar. 9, 1920, ch. 95, § 10, 41 Stat. 528; Pub. L. 97–31, § 12(25)(D), Aug. 6, 1981, 95 Stat. 155.

In subsection (a), the words “may bring a civil action to recover” are substituted for “shall have the right to collect and sue” for consistency in this chapter and to eliminate unnecessary words.