33 CFR 151.15: Reporting pollution incidents involving vessels

(a) The master, person in charge, owner, charterer, manager, or operator of a vessel involved in any incident described in paragraph (c) of this section must report the particulars of the incident without delay to the fullest extent possible under the provisions of this section.

(b) If a vessel involved in an incident is abandoned, or if a report from that vessel is incomplete or unattainable, the owner, charterer, manager, operator, or their agent must assume the obligations placed upon the master or other person having charge of the vessel under provisions of this section.

(c) The report must be made whenever an incident involves—

(1) A discharge of oil, hazardous substances, marine pollutants, or noxious liquid substances (NLS) resulting from damage to the vessel or its equipment, or for the purpose of securing the safety of a vessel or saving a life at sea;

(2) A discharge of oil in excess of the quantities or instantaneous rate permitted in § 151.10 or § 151.13 of this chapter, or NLS in bulk, in 46 CFR 153.1126 or 153.1128, during the operation of the vessel;

(3) A discharge of marine pollutants in packaged form; or

(4) A probable discharge resulting from damage to the vessel or its equipment. The factors you must consider to determine whether a discharge is probable include, but are not limited to—

(i) Ship location and proximity to land or other navigational hazards;

(ii) Weather;

(iii) Tide current;

(iv) Sea state;

(v) Traffic density;

(vi) The nature of damage to the vessel; and

(vii) Failure or breakdown aboard the vessel of its machinery or equipment. Such damage may be caused by collision, grounding, fire, explosion, structural failure, flooding or cargo shifting or a failure or breakdown of steering gear, propulsion, electrical generating system or essential shipboard navigational aids.

(d) Each report must be made by radio whenever possible, or by the fastest telecommunications channels available with the highest possible priority at the time the report is made to—

(1) The appropriate officer or agency of the government of the country in whose waters the incident occurs; and

(2) The nearest Captain of the Port (COTP) or the National Response Center (NRC), toll free number 800-424-8802 (in Washington, DC, metropolitan area, 202-267-2675), fax 202-267-1322, telex number 892427 for incidents involving U.S. vessels in any body of water; or incidents involving foreign flag vessels in the navigable waters of the United States; or incidents involving foreign-flag tank vessels within waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

(e) Each report must contain—

(1) The identity of the ship;

(2) The type of harmful substance involved;

(3) The time and date of the incident;

(4) The geographic position of the vessel when the incident occurred;

(5) The wind and the sea condition prevailing at the time of the incident;

(6) Relevant details respecting the condition of the vessel;

(7) A statement or estimate of the quantity of the harmful substance discharged or likely to be discharged into the sea; and

(8) Assistance and salvage measures.

(f) A person who is obligated under the provisions of this section to send a report must—

(1) Supplement the initial report, as necessary, with information concerning further developments; and

(2) Comply as fully as possible with requests from affected countries for additional information concerning the incident.

(g) A report made under this section satisfies the reporting requirements of § 153.203 of this chapter and of 46 CFR 4.05-1 and 4.05-2, if required under those provisions.