4. Liabilities of Owner of Wreck.—
It is a general doctrine of the law that the owner of a vessel wrecked without his personal fault may relieve himself from all further personal liability on its account by abandoning it. If sunk through his fault, or if he still retains his title, he may be liable for damage which it occasions, or for maintaining a nuisance, or for obstructing navigable waters. If wrecked by unavoidable accident or without the owner's negligence, he may abandon all his rights and interest in what remains and be freed from all further responsibility; he will be under no obligation to remove it nor subject to indictment on its account, nor liable in damages for injuries caused by it. This abandonment is not required to be in any formal way but is shown by evidence of acts and intention. A notice to any public authorities who may be concerned, like local United States engineers, or harbor masters, or commissioners of wrecks, is often sufficient. Where, however, the owner does not abandon, he remains liable in many respects. The wreck may be a nuisance which the courts will compel him to abate at the suit of property owners injuriously affected. It may be an obstruction to navigable waters and the government may remove it at his expense or proceed against him criminally for such obstruction. Passing vessels may injure themselves against it or the riparian owner assert damages for the trespass.