The city filed legal papers yesterday denying any liability in the May 8 crash of a problem-plagued Staten Island ferry, which has spurred millions of dollars in personal-injury claims.

The Manhattan federal court papers say the Andrew J. Barberi, aboard which 11 passengers were killed in a 2003 crash, was certified by the Coast Guard a month before the latest incident, which was blamed on mechanical failure.

Twenty-nine people filed suit or notices that they intend to seek up to $10 million each.

The papers say that if the city is held liable, its exposure shouldn’t exceed $14.4 million under federal maritime law.