R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-6-14: Commissioner of wrecks not liable for cost — Application of property held.

A commissioner of wrecks and shipwrecked goods shall not be liable to the provisions of this chapter by reason of anything done by the commissioner in discharge of his or her office as the commissioner; but he or she shall, upon notice and request by the director of the department of environmental management, retain and apply so much of the property in his or her possession appertaining to a wrecked vessel, or of the proceeds thereof, as may be necessary to provide for the removal of the vessel so that the vessel shall not be an obstruction in tidewaters.