---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 31303"
description: "Certain civil actions not authorized"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "313"
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS"
section: "31303"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31303"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s31303"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "f2736220f91dd3a0390b1d8d35c8066f3c57995ca35c8f28aedf3366376b8bb3"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "6161ff54fdeac80759be1e745b5e7617c931883b91c4a7a1de8e6c975ddf54ad"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 31303 - Certain civil actions not authorized

## Text

If a mortgage covers a vessel and additional property that is not a vessel, this chapter does not authorize a civil action in rem to enforce the rights of the mortgagee under the mortgage against the additional property.

(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4740.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 3130346:954(b) Section 31303 makes it clear that, if a mortgage covers a vessel and additional property that is not a vessel, this chapter does not authorize a civil action in rem in admiralty to enforce rights against the additional property. This section makes no substantive change to law.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.