46 USC § 31303 - Certain civil actions not authorized

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s31303"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 31303 - Certain civil actions not authorized"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "31303"
section_name: "Certain civil actions not authorized"
chapter_number: 313
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4740.)"
---


# § 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 under the mortgage against the additional property.

---

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

| 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 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 , with certain exceptions and qualifications, see , set out as a note under .