36 CFR § 3.5 - Do I have to report an accident involving a vessel to the National Park Service?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s3.5"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 3.5 - Do I have to report an accident involving a vessel to the National Park Service?"
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "3.5"
section_name: "Do I have to report an accident involving a vessel to the National Park Service?"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
part_number: "3"
part_name: "BOATING AND WATER USE ACTIVITIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102."
regulatory_source: "72 FR 13702, Mar. 23, 2007, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "3"
---


# 3.5 Do I have to report an accident involving a vessel to the National Park Service?

(a) The operator of a vessel involved in an accident must report the accident to the superintendent as soon as practical, but in any event within 24 hours of the accident, if the accident involves:

(1) Total property damage of $2000 or more; or

(2) Injury, or death or disappearance of a person

(b) If the operator is physically incapable of making the report, the owner or an occupant of the vessel must report the accident to the superintendent.

(c) Filing a report with the superintendent may satisfy applicable United States Coast Guard, State, and local accident reporting requirements. Superintendents will forward the accident report to the appropriate reporting authority in a timely manner that complies with the requirements of 33 CFR 173.55.