Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§1208 Penalties

Title 33 › CHAPTER 24 — VESSEL BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE COMMUNICATION › § 1208

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the captain, the person in charge of a vessel, or a pilot put in charge of steering the vessel fails to follow or enforce the rules under this chapter, that person can be fined up to $500 by the Secretary. The vessel itself can also be fined up to $500 and can be taken to any U.S. district court that has authority over the case. The Secretary can reduce or cancel any fine and set the conditions for that reduction.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1208

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Master, person in charge, or pilot subject to penalty
Whoever, being the master or person in charge of a vessel subject to this chapter, fails to enforce or comply with this chapter or the regulation, hereunder; or Whoever, being designated by the master or person in charge of a vessel subject to this chapter to pilot or direct the movement of the vessel, fails to enforce or comply with this chapter or the regulations hereunder— Is liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 to be assessed by the Secretary.
(b)Vessels subject to penalty; jurisdiction
Every vessel navigating in violation of this chapter or the regulations hereunder is liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 to be assessed by the Secretary for which the vessel may be proceeded against in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction.
(c)Remission or mitigation
Any penalty assessed under this section may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary upon such terms as he may deem proper.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective May 1, 1971, or six months after the promulgation of

Regulations

which would implement its provisions, whichever is later, see section 10 of Pub. L. 92–63, set out as a note under section 1201 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1208

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110