33 CFR § 151.11 - Exceptions for emergencies.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s151.11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 151.11 - Exceptions for emergencies."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "151.11"
section_name: "Exceptions for emergencies."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "O"
subchapter_name: "POLLUTION"
part_number: "151"
part_name: "VESSELS CARRYING OIL, NOXIOUS LIQUID SUBSTANCES, GARBAGE, MUNICIPAL OR COMMERCIAL WASTE, AND BALLAST WATER"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 1902, 1903, 1908; 46 U.S.C. 6101; 46 U.S.C. 70034; Pub. L. 104-227, 110 Stat. 3034; sec. 623, Pub. L. 108-293, 118 Stat. 1063; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
cfr_part: "151"
---


# 151.11 Exceptions for emergencies.

(a) Sections 151.10 and 151.13 do not apply to—

(1) The discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea.

(2) The discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixture resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment—

(i) Provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken after the occurrence of the damage or discovery of the discharge for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the discharge; and

(ii) Except if the owner or the master acted either with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage would probably result.

(b) [Reserved]

[CGD 75-134a, 48 FR 45709, Oct. 6, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-002, 54 FR 18404, Apr. 28, 1989]