Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73

§24 Vessels laying cables; signals; avoidance of buoys

Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - SUBMARINE CABLES › § 24

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Ship captains must follow the signal rules set by the countries in the convention mentioned in section 30 when laying or repairing undersea cables. If a captain sees signals from a telegraph ship doing cable work, the ship must keep at least one nautical mile away. If buoys mark a cable being laid or broken, the ship must stay at least a quarter of a nautical mile away. If a captain breaks these rules, it is a misdemeanor. On conviction, the captain can be jailed for up to one month or fined up to $500.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §24

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The master of any vessel which, while engaged in laying or repairing submarine cables, shall fail to observe the rules concerning signals that have been or shall be adopted by the parties to the convention described in section 30 of this title with a view to preventing collisions at sea; or the master of any vessel that, perceiving, or being able to perceive the said signals displayed upon a telegraph ship engaged in repairing a cable, shall not withdraw to or keep at distance of at least one nautical mile; or the master of any vessel that seeing or being able to see buoys intended to mark the position of a cable when being laid or when out of order or broken, shall not keep at a distance of at least a quarter of a nautical mile, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or to a fine of not exceeding $500.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 24

Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73