46 U.S.C. § 4705

Liability of barge removal contractors

(a)

A barge removal contractor and its subcontractor are not liable for damages that result from actions taken or omitted to be taken in the course of removing a barge under this subchapter.

(b)

Subsection (a) does not apply—

(1)

with respect to personal injury or wrongful death; or

(2)

if the contractor or subcontractor is grossly negligent or engages in willful misconduct.

(Added Pub. L. 102–587, title V, § 5302 , Nov. 4, 1992 , 106 Stat. 5083 ; amended Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(19) , Oct. 6, 2006 , 120 Stat. 1703 ; Pub. L. 119–60, div. G, title LXXIII, § 7347(c)(4) , Dec. 18, 2025 , 139 Stat. 1781 .)