https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation_of_Liability_Act_of_1851 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation_of_Liability_Act_of... (from the wiki page) > at th

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation_of_Liability_Act_of_1851 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitation_of_Liability_Act_of... (from the wiki page) > at the time, shipowners were subject to loss from events beyond their control such as storms and pirates, so the Act was designed to limit the shipowners' liability to the value of the vessel. But it's predicated on "the owner can prove it lacked knowledge of the problem beforehand". Losing power a few times before the impact doesn't bode well there.