Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 3772

Injuries outside locks

section 3779(b) of this titlesection 3811 of this titleSubject to , the Commission shall promptly adjust and pay damages for injuries to vessels, or to the cargo, crew, or passengers of vessels which may arise by reason of their presence in the Panama Canal, or waters adjacent thereto, other than the locks, when the injury was proximately caused by negligence or fault on the part of an officer or employee of the United States acting within the scope of his employment and in the line of his duties in connection with the operation of the Canal. If the negligence or fault of the vessel, master, crew, or passengers proximately contributed to the injury, the award of damages shall be diminished in proportion to the negligence or fault attributable to the vessel, master, crew, or passengers. In the case of a vessel which is required by or pursuant to regulations prescribed pursuant to to have a Panama Canal pilot on duty aboard, damages may not be adjusted and paid for injuries to the vessel, or its cargo, crew, or passengers, incurred while the vessel was underway and in motion, unless at the time the injuries were incurred the navigation or movement of the vessel was under the control of a Panama Canal pilot. No payment for damages on a claim may be made under this section unless the claim is filed with the Commission within one year after the date of the injury or by , whichever is later.

Pub. L. 96–70, title I, § 141293 Stat. 485 Pub. L. 99–209, § 2(c)99 Stat. 1716 Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXV, § 3543(a)111 Stat. 2072 Pub. L. 105–261, div. C, title XXXV112 Stat. 2270 (, , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 3509(a)(2), 3512(a)(4), , , 2271.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 105–261section 3779(b) of this title1998— substituted “Subject to , the Commission” for “The Commission” in first sentence and “by ” for “”.

Pub. L. 105–851997— substituted “within one year after the date of the injury or ,” for “within 2 years after the date of the injury, or within 1 year after ,”.

Pub. L. 99–2091985— struck out provisions limiting the amount of the claim to $120,000, and inserted provision that no payment for damages on a claim may be made under this section unless the claim is filed with the Commission within 2 years after the date of the injury, or within 1 year after , whichever is later.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–209section 7(a) of Pub. L. 99–209section 3771 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any claim arising on or after , see , set out as a note under .