Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 46-6 - Obstructions to Navigation
Section 46-6-11. - Liability for cost of removing obstruction — Action for recovery.

§ 46-6-11. Liability for cost of removing obstruction — Action for recovery.
The owner of any vessel or of an interest in any vessel willfully or maliciously wrecked, sunken, or abandoned and removed as provided in § 46-6-10, whether owning, at the time the vessel first became an obstruction, or at any subsequent time before the removal is completed, and all persons having or exercising any control over the vessel or any part thereof, and, in the case of any other obstruction so removed, the person or persons originally building, depositing, or causing the obstruction, or at the time of the removal, or at any time prior thereto, owning, maintaining, or using the obstruction in whole or in part, shall be liable to pay the cost and expenses of the removal, or to repay the cost when paid out of the derelict and abandoned vessel and obstruction removal account or treasury as aforesaid; and the cost may be recovered in a civil action brought by the director in the name of the state against the owners or other persons, or against any one or more of them. The attorney general shall conduct and commence the suits. All moneys so repaid or recovered shall be paid into the derelict and abandoned vessel and obstruction removal account or treasury of the state. Any person who pays on a judgment or otherwise more than his or her proportional part of the costs and expenses aforesaid, shall have a claim for contribution against all other parties liable therefor according to their respective interests.
History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 118, § 21; G.L. 1909, ch. 144, § 21; G.L. 1923, ch. 149, § 20; G.L. 1938, ch. 112, § 21; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 100; G.L. 1956, § 46-6-11; P.L. 2012, ch. 370, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 389, § 2.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 46 - Waters and Navigation

Chapter 46-6 - Obstructions to Navigation

Section 46-6-1. - Deposit of dirt and other substances in public tidewaters.

Section 46-6-2. - Approval of plans for construction of wharves and piers.

Section 46-6-3. - Abatement of unauthorized encroachments on tidewater.

Section 46-6-4. - Protection of Blackstone and Seekonk Rivers.

Section 46-6-5. - Repealed.

Section 46-6-6. - Protection of upper Narragansett Bay.

Section 46-6-7. - Protection of waters off Goat Island.

Section 46-6-8. - Duty of department to remove obstructions.

Section 46-6-8.1. - Definitions.

Section 46-6-9. - Notice to owner to remove obstruction — Penalty.

Section 46-6-10. - Removal of obstruction by director — Payment of cost.

Section 46-6-10.1. - Use or disposal of vessel or other obstruction.

Section 46-6-10.2. - Derelict and abandoned vessel and obstruction removal commission.

Section 46-6-10.3. - Derelict and abandoned vessel and obstruction removal account.

Section 46-6-10.4. - Derelict and abandoned vessel and obstruction removal fee.

Section 46-6-11. - Liability for cost of removing obstruction — Action for recovery.

Section 46-6-12. - Sale of object removed to pay cost of removal.

Section 46-6-13. - Insurer of lost vessel not liable for cost of removal.

Section 46-6-14. - Commissioner of wrecks not liable for cost — Application of property held.

Section 46-6-15. - Duty of commissioners of wrecks and harbormasters to give notice of obstructions.

Section 46-6-16. - Application for federal reimbursement of expenses.

Section 46-6-17. - Severability.