Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73
§3718 Penalties
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part B— - Inspection and Regulation of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - CARRIAGE OF LIQUID BULK DANGEROUS CARGOES › § 3718
Summary
A person who breaks these rules must pay the U.S. government up to $25,000. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate fine. A ship that is operated in violation can be fined too. If someone knowingly breaks the rules, it is a class D felony. If they use a dangerous weapon or cause injury or make an enforcement officer fear immediate harm, it is a class C felony instead. Federal courts can order a stop to violations. If an owner, operator, or person in charge is liable or likely to be liable for a penalty, the Secretary of Homeland Security may refuse or cancel the vessel’s required clearance. That clearance can be returned if a bond or other surety acceptable to the Secretary is filed.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §3718
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)A person violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation.
(2)Each vessel to which this chapter applies that is operated in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter is liable in rem for a civil penalty under this subsection.
(b)A person willfully and knowingly violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter commits a class D felony.
(c)Instead of the penalties provided by subsection (b) of this section, a person willfully and knowingly violating this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter, and using a dangerous weapon, or engaging in conduct that causes bodily injury or fear of imminent bodily injury to an official authorized to enforce this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter, commits a class C felony.
(d)The district courts of the United States have jurisdiction to restrain a violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter.
(e)(1)If any owner, operator, or individual in charge of a vessel is liable for any penalty or fine under this section, or if reasonable cause exists to believe that the owner, operator, or individual in charge may be subject to any penalty or fine under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, upon the request of the Secretary, shall with respect to such vessel refuse or revoke any clearance required by section 60105 of this title.
(2)Clearance or a permit refused or revoked under this subsection may be granted upon filing of a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 371846:391a(14) section 3718 provides the authority to assess civil penalties for violation of the chapter or
Regulations
. Each violation subjects the violator to a penalty not to exceed $25,000 for each violation and, in the case of a continuing violation, each day shall constitute a separate violation and the vessel is liable in rem. The procedures for assessing penalties are found in section 2107 of part A. With respect to criminal penalties, a willful or knowing violation of the section or a regulation subjects the offender, upon conviction, to a criminal fine of not more than $50,000 for each violation or imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both. If the willful and knowing violation involves the use of a dangerous weapon or constitutes an assault or battery, the offender is subjected to a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment of not more than 10 years, or both. In addition, where the owner or operator of the vessel is subject to any of the penalties prescribed, the Secretary of the Treasury is directed to withhold required Customs clearance, at the request of the Secretary. Clearance may be granted upon the filing of a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 109–304 substituted “Secretary of Homeland Security” and “section 60105 of this title” for “Secretary of the Treasury” and “section 4197 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (46 App. U.S.C. 91)”, respectively. 1996—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–324 amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “At the request of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury shall withhold or revoke the clearance required by section 4197 of the Revised Statutes (46 App. U.S.C. 91) of a vessel the owner or operator of which is subject to a penalty under this section. Clearance may be granted on filing a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary.” 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(c)(1), substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(c)(2), substituted “commits a class C felony” for “shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both”.
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 Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 3718
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73