46 USC § 53904 - Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s53904"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 53904 - Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "53904"
section_name: "Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts"
chapter_number: 539
chapter_name: "WAR RISK INSURANCE"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Financial Assistance Programs"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1628.)"
---


# § 53904. Liability insurance for persons involved in war or defense efforts

**(a)** **In General.—** The Secretary of Transportation may provide insurance under this chapter against legal liability that a person may incur in providing services or facilities for a vessel if, in the opinion of the Secretary, the insurance—

**(1)** is required in prosecuting a war or for national defense; and

**(2)** cannot be obtained at reasonable rates or on reasonable terms and conditions from approved companies authorized to do insurance business in a State of the United States.

**(b)** **Limitations.—** Employer liability insurance and worker compensation insurance against legal liability to employees may not be provided under this section.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1628.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 53904 | 46 App.:1286. | June 29, 1936, ch. 858, title XII, § 1206, as added Sept. 7, 1950, ch. 906, 64 Stat. 774; Aug. 3, 1956, ch. 929, § 5, 70 Stat. 986. |

In subsection (a), the words “a vessel” are substituted for “any American- or foreign-flag vessel, public or private” to eliminate unnecessary words.