---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31104"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31104"
heading: "Venue"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31104"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 311 — Suits Involving Public Vessels"
---

# §31104. Venue

- (a) **In General.—** A civil action under this chapter shall be brought in the district court of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) for the district in which the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) or cargo is found within the [United States](/usc/46/114.md).
- (b) **Vessel or Cargo Outside Territorial Waters.—** If the [vessel](/usc/46/115.md) or cargo is outside the territorial waters of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md)—
  - (1) the action shall be brought in the district court of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) for any district in which any plaintiff resides or has an office for the transaction of business; or
  - (2) if no plaintiff resides or has an office for the transaction of business in the [United States](/usc/46/114.md), the action may be brought in the district court of the [United States](/usc/46/114.md) for any district.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1521.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 31104 | 46 App.:782 (1st sentence). | Mar. 3, 1925, ch. 428, § 2 (1st sentence), 43 Stat. 1112. |

In subsection (a), the words “charged with creating the liability” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (b)(2), the words “in the United States” are omitted as unnecessary.