PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006
120 STAT. 1519
‘‘§ 30909. Security ‘‘Neither the United States nor a federally-owned corporation may be required to give a bond or admiralty stipulation in a civil action under this chapter. ‘‘§ 30910. Exoneration and limitation ‘‘The United States is entitled to the exemptions from and limitations of liability provided by law to an owner, charterer, operator, or agent of a vessel. ‘‘§ 30911. Costs and interest ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A judgment against the United States or a federally-owned corporation under this chapter may include costs and interest at the rate of 4 percent per year until satisfied. Interest shall run as ordered by the court, except that interest is not allowable for the period before the action is filed. ‘‘(b) CONTRACT PROVIDING FOR INTEREST.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), if the claim is based on a contract providing for interest, interest may be awarded at the rate and for the period provided in the contract. ‘‘§ 30912. Arbitration, compromise, or settlement ‘‘The Secretary of a department of the United States Government, or the board of trustees of a federally-owned corporation, may arbitrate, compromise, or settle a claim under this chapter. ‘‘§ 30913. Payment of judgment or settlement ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The proper accounting officer of the United States shall pay a final judgment, arbitration award, or settlement under this chapter on presentation of an authenticated copy. ‘‘(b) SOURCE OF PAYMENT.—Payment shall be made from an appropriation or fund available specifically for the purpose. If no appropriation or fund is specifically available, there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount sufficient to pay the judgment, award, or settlement. ‘‘§ 30914. Release of privately owned vessel after arrest or attachment ‘‘If a privately owned vessel not in the possession of the United States or a federally-owned corporation is arrested or attached in a civil action arising or alleged to have arisen from prior ownership, possession, or operation by the United States or corporation, the vessel shall be released without bond or stipulation on a statement by the United States, through the Attorney General or other authorized law officer, that the United States is interested in the action, desires release of the vessel, and assumes liability for the satisfaction of any judgment obtained by the plaintiff. After the vessel is released, the action shall proceed against the United States in accordance with this chapter. ‘‘§ 30915. Seizures and other proceedings in foreign jurisdictions ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If a vessel or cargo described in section 30908 or 30914 of this title is arrested, attached, or otherwise seized by judicial process in a foreign country, or if an action is brought in a court of a foreign country against the master of such a vessel for a claim arising from the ownership, possession,
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