§70508 Operation of Submersible Vessel or Semi-submersible Vessel Without Nationality

Summary

You must not operate or board a submersible or semi‑submersible that has no nationality and that goes into, through, or from waters beyond a country’s territorial sea (or beyond the lateral limit with a neighboring country) if the purpose is to avoid being detected. In a civil case, certain signs listed in section 70507(b) — specifically (1)(A), (E), (F), (G) and (4), (5), (6) — can be treated as initial proof that someone meant to evade detection. You can defend yourself by showing the vessel was at the time a U.S. vessel or lawfully registered abroad as claimed when asked by a U.S. officer; built and classed under a classification society’s rules; lawfully used under government license or regulation (for commerce, research, or exploration); or equipped with and using an operable AIS, VMS, or LRIT. Those defenses are proved by producing the proper government or classification documents (including nationality documents under Article 5 of the 1958 High Seas Convention). A violation can bring a civil penalty up to $1,000,000.