46 C.F.R. § 327.34
No person, surviving dependent or beneficiary, or legal representative, having a claim specified under 46 U.S.C. 30101(a) against MARAD, may institute a court action against MARAD unless an administrative claim has previously been properly presented and filed in accordance with §§ 327.22 through 327.24, and such administrative claim has been subsequently denied in accordance with § 327.32 or § 327.33.