On December 23, 2022, President Biden signed into law House of Representatives Bill 7776, the “James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023,” which primarily contained appropriations for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State, etc. That said, part of the bill also amended the Limitation of Liability Act, 46 U.S.C. 30501, et seq. (Limitation Act), which will impact vessel owners and operators. Namely, certain small passenger vessels have now been removed from the Limitation Act’s ambit of protection.

Jones Walker is monitoring this significant change in legislation. Click the link below to read more about how the amended Limitation of Liability Act will impact small passenger vessels, vessel owners, and operators.