33 USC § 1208 - Penalties

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t33/s1208"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "33 USC § 1208 - Penalties"
title_number: 33
title_name: "NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS"
section_number: "1208"
section_name: "Penalties"
chapter_number: 24
chapter_name: "VESSEL BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE COMMUNICATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 92–63, § 9, Aug. 4, 1971, 85 Stat. 165.)"
---


# § 1208. Penalties

**(a)** **Master, person in charge, or pilot subject to penalty** Whoever, being the master or person in charge of a vessel subject to this chapter, fails to enforce or comply with this chapter or the regulation, hereunder; or

Whoever, being designated by the master or person in charge of a vessel subject to this chapter to pilot or direct the movement of the vessel, fails to enforce or comply with this chapter or the regulations hereunder—

Is liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 to be assessed by the Secretary.

**(b)** **Vessels subject to penalty; jurisdiction** Every vessel navigating in violation of this chapter or the regulations hereunder is liable to a civil penalty of not more than $500 to be assessed by the Secretary for which the vessel may be proceeded against in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction.

**(c)** **Remission or mitigation** Any penalty assessed under this section may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary upon such terms as he may deem proper.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 92–63, § 9, Aug. 4, 1971, 85 Stat. 165.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , or six months after the promulgation of regulations which would implement its provisions, whichever is later, see , set out as a note under .