Marine Liability Act (S.C. 2001, c. 6)

Marginal note:Limitation of liability

• 30. (1) The maximum liability of an owner of a dock, canal or port, for a claim that arises on any distinct occasion for loss caused to a ship, or to any cargo or other property on board a ship, is the greater of

  • (a) $2,000,000, and

  • (b) the amount calculated by multiplying $1,000 by the number of tons of the gross tonnage of the largest ship that is at the time of the loss, or had been within a period of five years before that time, within the area of the dock, canal or port over which the owner had control or management.

• Marginal note:Calculation of tonnage

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a ship’s gross tonnage shall be calculated in the manner described in subsection 28(2).

• Marginal note:Application

  (3) The maximum liability specified in subsection (1) also applies to any person for whose act or omission the owner is responsible.

• Marginal note:Conduct barring limitation

  (4) This section does not apply to an owner, or a person for whose act or omission the owner is responsible, if it is proved that the loss resulted from the personal act or omission of that owner or that person, as the case may be, committed with intent to cause the loss or recklessly and with knowledge that the loss would probably result.

• Marginal note:Meaning of terms

  (5) For the purposes of this section,

  • (a) “dock” includes wet docks and basins, tidal-docks and basins, locks, cuts, entrances, dry docks, graving docks, gridirons, slips, quays, wharfs, piers, stages, landing places, jetties and synchrolifts; and

  • (b) “owner of a dock, canal or port” includes any person or authority having the control or management of the dock, canal or port and any ship repairer using the dock, canal or port.

Marginal note:Amendment of limits

• 31. (1) The Governor in Council may, by order, declare that an amendment made in accordance with Article 8 of the Protocol to any of the limits of liability specified in paragraph 1 of Article 6 or paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Convention has the force of law in Canada.

• Marginal note:Amendment of sections 28, 29 and 30

  (2) The Governor in Council may, by order, amend the limits of liability set out in sections 28, 29 and 30.

Marginal note:Jurisdiction of Admiralty Court

• 32. (1) The Admiralty Court has exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any matter relating to the constitution and distribution of a limitation fund under Articles 11 to 13 of the Convention.

• Marginal note:Right to assert limitation defence

  (2) Where a claim is made or apprehended against a person in respect of liability that is limited by section 28, 29 or 30 of this Act or paragraph 1 of Article 6 or 7 of the Convention, that person may assert the right to limitation of liability in a defence filed, or by way of action or counterclaim for declaratory relief, in any court of competent jurisdiction in Canada.