33 CFR § 151.77 - Exceptions for emergencies and health risks.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s151.77"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 151.77 - Exceptions for emergencies and health risks."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "151.77"
section_name: "Exceptions for emergencies and health risks."
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"
---


# 151.77 Exceptions for emergencies and health risks.

Sections 151.67, 151.69, 151.71, and 151.73 do not apply to the following:

(a) Discharges of garbage from a ship necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship and those on board or saving life at sea.

(b) The accidental loss of garbage resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment, provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the occurrence of the damage, to prevent or minimize the accidental loss.

(c) The accidental loss of fishing gear from a ship, provided all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent such loss.

(d) The discharge of fishing gear from a ship for the protection of the marine environment or for the safety of that ship or its crew.

(e) The en route requirements of §§ 151.69 and 151.71 do not apply to the discharge of food wastes when it is clear the retention on board of these food wastes present an imminent health risk to the people on board.

[USCG-2012-1049, 78 FR 13493, Feb. 28, 2013]