
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC3772]

 
               TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
 
                        CHAPTER 51--PANAMA CANAL
 
              SUBCHAPTER I--ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATIONS
 
           Part 4--Claims for Injuries to Persons or Property
 
                        subpart ii--vessel damage
 
Sec. 3772. Injuries outside locks

    Subject to section 3779(b) of this title, 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 section 3811 of this title 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 November 
18, 1998, whichever is later.

(Pub. L. 96-70, title I, Sec. 1412, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 485; Pub. 
L. 99-209, Sec. 2(c), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1716; Pub. L. 105-85, div. 
C, title XXXV, Sec. 3543(a), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2072; Pub. L. 105-
261, div. C, title XXXV, Secs. 3509(a)(2), 3512(a)(4), Oct. 17, 1998, 
112 Stat. 2270, 2271.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Pub. L. 105-261 substituted ``Subject to section 3779(b) of 
this title, the Commission'' for ``The Commission'' in first sentence 
and ``by November 18, 1998'' for ``November 18, 1997''.
    1997--Pub. L. 105-85 substituted ``within one year after the date of 
the injury or November 18, 1997,'' for ``within 2 years after the date 
of the injury, or within 1 year after December 23, 1985,''.
    1985--Pub. L. 99-209 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 Dec. 23, 1985, whichever is later.


                    Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 99-209 applicable to any claim arising on or 
after Oct. 1, 1979, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 99-209, set out as a 
note under section 3771 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 3776, 3779 of this title.
