Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102
§24 Vessels Laying Cables; Signals; Avoidance of Buoys
Title 47 › CHAPTER 2 — SUBMARINE CABLES › § 24
Summary
Captains must obey agreed signal rules and keep away from places where submarine cables are being laid or repaired. They must stay at least 1 nautical mile from a cable‑repair ship showing signals and at least 1/4 nautical mile from buoys that mark a cable. Breaking these rules is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one month in jail or a $500 fine.
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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102