Collapse to view only § 1471. Definitions
- § 1471. Definitions
- § 1472. Grave and imminent danger from oil pollution casualties to coastline or related interests of United States; Federal nonliability for Federal preventive measures on the high seas
- § 1473. Consultations and determinations respecting creation of hazards to human health, etc.; criteria for determinations respecting grave and imminent dangers of major harmful consequences to United States coastline or related interests
- § 1474. Federal intervention actions
- § 1475. Consultation procedure
- § 1476. Emergencies
- § 1477. Reasonable measures; considerations
- § 1478. Personal, flag state, and foreign state considerations
- § 1479. Federal liability for unreasonable damages
- § 1480. Notification by Secretary of State
- § 1481. Violations; penalties
- § 1482. Consultation for nomination and nomination of experts, negotiators, etc.; proposal of amendments to list of substances other than convention oil; Presidential acceptance of amendments
- § 1483. Foreign government ships; immunity
- § 1484. Interpretation and administration; other right, duty, privilege, or immunity and other remedy unaffected
- § 1485. Rules and regulations
- § 1486. Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
- § 1487. Effective date
Whenever a ship collision, stranding, or other incident of navigation or other occurrence on board a ship or external to it resulting in material damage or imminent threat of material damage to the ship or her cargo creates, as determined by the Secretary, a grave and imminent danger to the coastline or related interests of the United States from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea by convention oil or of the sea or atmosphere by a substance other than convention oil which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences, the Secretary may, except as provided for in section 1479 of this title, without liability for any damage to the owners or operators of the ship, to her cargo or crew, to underwriters or other parties interested therein, take measures on the high seas, in accordance with the provisions of the convention, the protocol and this chapter, to prevent, mitigate, or eliminate that danger.
In cases of extreme urgency requiring measures to be taken immediately, the Secretary may take those measures rendered necessary by the urgency of the situation without the prior consultation or notification as required by section 1475 of this title or without the continuation of consultations already begun.
The Secretary of State shall notify without delay foreign states concerned, the Secretary-General of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, and persons affected by measures taken under this chapter.
No measures may be taken under authority of this chapter against any warship or other ship owned or operated by a country and used, for the time being, only on Government noncommercial service.
This chapter shall be interpreted and administered in a manner consistent with the convention, the protocol, and other international law. Except as specifically provided, nothing in this chapter may be interpreted to prejudice any otherwise applicable right, duty, privilege, or immunity or deprive any country or person of any remedy otherwise applicable.
The Secretary may issue reasonable rules and regulations which he considers appropriate and necessary for the effective implementation of this chapter.
The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund shall be available to the Secretary for actions taken under sections 1474 and 1476 of this title.
This chapter shall be effective upon February 5, 1974, or upon the date the convention becomes effective as to the United States, whichever is later.