Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1908 Penalties for violations

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 33— - PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS › § 1908

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Knowingly breaking MARPOL, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, or the U.S. rules that enforce them can be a class D felony. A court may give up to one-half of a fine to someone who provides information that leads to a conviction. The Secretary or the Administrator, after giving notice and a chance for a hearing, can also charge civil fines: up to $25,000 for each violation and up to $5,000 for each false statement required under the rules. Those officials can reduce or cancel fines, and unpaid civil penalties can be sent to the Attorney General for collection. A ship that breaks the rules can be held directly responsible and sued where it is found. If a ship, its owner, or its operator is liable or likely to be liable, Treasury can refuse or revoke the ship’s clearance to sail unless a bond is filed. If the ship is registered to, or operated under, a country that is a party to MARPOL or the Antarctic Protocol, U.S. officials may instead send the case to that country. Penalties not paid to an informant go into the Abandoned Seafarers Fund.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1908

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person who knowingly violates the MARPOL Protocol, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, this chapter, or the regulations issued thereunder commits a class D felony. In the discretion of the Court, an amount equal to not more than ½ of such fine may be paid to the person giving information leading to conviction.
(b)A person who is found by the Secretary, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, to have—
(1)violated the MARPOL Protocol, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, this chapter, or the regulations issued thereunder shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty, not to exceed $25,000 for each violation; or
(2)made a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any matter in which a statement or representation is required to be made to the Secretary, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter, under the MARPOL Protocol, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, this chapter, or the regulations thereunder, shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty, not to exceed $5,000 for each statement or representation.
(c)The Secretary, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter, may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any civil penalty which is subject to assessment or which has been assessed under this section. If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become final, the Secretary, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter, may refer the matter to the Attorney General of the United States for collection in any appropriate district court of the United States.
(d)A ship operated in violation of the MARPOL Protocol, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, this chapter, or the regulations thereunder is liable in rem for any fine imposed under subsection (a) or civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsection (b), and may be proceeded against in the United States district court of any district in which the ship may be found.
(e)If any ship subject to the MARPOL Protocol, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol, or this chapter, its owner, operator, or person in charge is liable for a fine or civil penalty under this section, or if reasonable cause exists to believe that the ship, its owner, operator, or person in charge may be subject to a fine or civil penalty under this section, the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary, shall refuse or revoke the clearance required by section 60105 of title 46. Clearance may be granted upon the filing of a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.
(f)Notwithstanding subsection (a), (b), or (d) of this section, if the violation is by a ship registered in or of the nationality of a country party to the MARPOL Protocol or the Antarctic Protocol, or one operated under the authority of a country party to the MARPOL Protocol or the Antarctic Protocol, the Secretary, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter acting in coordination with the Secretary of State, may refer the matter to the government of the country of the ship’s registry or nationality, or under whose authority the ship is operating for appropriate action, rather than taking the actions required or authorized by this section.
(g)Any penalty collected under subsection (a) or (b) that is not paid under that subsection to the person giving information leading to the conviction or assessment of such penalties shall be deposited in the Abandoned Seafarers Fund established under section 11113 of title 46.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification In subsec. (e), “section 60105 of title 46” substituted for “section 4197 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (46 U.S.C. App. 91)” on authority of Pub. L. 109–304, § 18(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1709, which Act enacted section 60105 of Title 46, Shipping.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 113–281 added subsec. (g). 2008—Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(1), substituted “MARPOL Protocol,” for “MARPOL Protocol,,” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a), (b), and (d). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(2)(C), in concluding provisions, inserted “or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter” after “Secretary,” and “, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter,” after “Secretary” in two places. Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(2)(A), in introductory provisions, inserted “or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter,” after “Secretary,”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(2)(B), inserted “, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter,” after “Secretary”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(3), inserted “, or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter,” after “Secretary” in two places. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–280, § 10(4), inserted “or the Administrator as provided for in this chapter” after “Secretary,”. 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–227, § 201(f)(1), inserted “, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol,” after “MARPOL Protocol,”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–227, § 201(f)(2), (3), inserted “, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol,” after “MARPOL Protocol,” in pars. (1) and (2). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–227, § 201(f)(4), inserted “, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol,” after “MARPOL Protocol,”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–227, § 201(f)(5), inserted “, Annex IV to the Antarctic Protocol,” after “MARPOL Protocol”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–227, § 201(f)(6), inserted “or the Antarctic Protocol” after “MARPOL Protocol” in two places. 1993—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–182 substituted “shall refuse or revoke the clearance required by section 91 of title 46, Appendix. Clearance may be granted upon the filing of a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.” for “shall refuse or revoke— “(1) the clearance required by section 91 of title 46, Appendix; or “(2) a permit to proceed under section 313 of title 46, Appendix, or section 1443 of title 19. Clearance or a permit to proceed may be granted upon the filing of a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.” 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–380 substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall, for each violation, be fined not more than $50,000 or be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both”. 1987—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–220, § 2105(a)(1), inserted at end “In the discretion of the Court, an amount equal to not more than ½ of such fine may be paid to the person giving information leading to conviction.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–220, § 2105(a)(2), inserted at end “An amount equal to not more than ½ of such penalties may be paid by the Secretary to the person giving information leading to the assessment of such penalties.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–220, § 2105(b), substituted “to the government of the country of the ship’s registry or nationality, or under whose authority the ship is operating” for “to that country”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 2701 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1987 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–220 effective Dec. 31, 1988, the date on which Annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, entered into force for the United States, see section 2002(a) of Pub. L. 100–220, set out as a note under section 1901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1908

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73