46 USC § 31341 - Persons presumed to have authority to procure necessaries

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s31341"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 31341 - Persons presumed to have authority to procure necessaries"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "31341"
section_name: "Persons presumed to have authority to procure necessaries"
chapter_number: 313
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "MARITIME LIENS"
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. 4748; Pub. L. 101–225, title III, § 303(5), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1924.)"
---


# § 31341. Persons presumed to have authority to procure necessaries

**(a)** The following persons are presumed to have authority to procure necessaries for a vessel:

**(1)** the owner;

**(2)** the master;

**(3)** a person entrusted with the management of the vessel at the port of supply; or

**(4)** an officer or agent appointed by—

**(A)** the owner;

**(B)** a charterer;

**(C)** an owner pro hac vice; or

**(D)** an agreed buyer in possession of the vessel.

**(b)** A person tortiously or unlawfully in possession or charge of a vessel has no authority to procure necessaries for the vessel.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4748; Pub. L. 101–225, title III, § 303(5), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1924.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 31341(a) | 46:972 (1st sentence), 973 |
| 31341(b) | 46:972 (2d sentence) |

Section 31341(a) lists those persons who are presumed to have authority to procure necessaries for a vessel. These include the owner, master, or a manager at the port of supply; and an officer or agent appointed by the owner, charterer, owner , or buyer in possession of the vessel. This subsection makes no substantive change to law.

Section 31341(b) provides that any person that is tortiously or unlawfully in possession of or in charge of a vessel has no authority to procure necessaries. This subsection makes no substantive change to law.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a)(3).  substituted “management” for “mangement”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

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