§ 80101 - Vessel stranded on foreign coast

CHAPTER 801— WRECKS AND SALVAGE

(a) When a vessel of the United States is stranded on a coast of a foreign country, the consular officer in that country shall take proper measures, to the extent the laws of that country allow, to—

(a)(1) save and secure the vessel and property on the vessel; and

(a)(2) prepare an inventory of the property that is saved.

(b) After deducting the expenses, the consular officer shall deliver the property, with an inventory, to the owner of the property.

(c) A consular officer may not take possession of property under this section when the owner, master, or consignee is present or able to take possession of the property.

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 8010146 App.:721.R.S. § 4238.

In this section, the words “consular officer” are substituted for “Consuls and vice consuls” and “consul or vice consul” for consistency in the revised title.

Subsection (a)(1) is substituted for “as well for the purpose of saving the vessels, their cargoes and appurtenances, as for storing and securing the effects and merchandise saved” to eliminate unnecessary words.