46 U.S.C. § 30103: Liability of master, mate, engineer, and pilot

A person may bring a civil action against a master, mate, engineer, or pilot of a vessel, and recover damages, for personal injury or loss caused by the master’s, mate’s, engineer’s, or pilot’s—(1) negligence or willful misconduct; or (2) neglect or refusal to obey the laws governing the navigation of vessels.