33 CFR 151.51: Applicability of garbage and ship pollution rules

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section says which ships are covered by §§ 151.51 through 151.77. It covers U.S. ships wherever located and foreign ships in U.S. navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone. It excludes certain government ships and sets narrower coverage for §§ 151.55, 151.57, 151.59 and 151.73.

Applies toEach ship of United States registry or nationality or operated under U.S. authority wherever located, and each ship operated under another country's authority in U.S. navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone, subject to the exceptions in paragraphs (b) through (f).

What it says

  1. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (f), §§ 151.51 through 151.77 apply to ships of United States registry or nationality, or operated under U.S. authority, including recreational and uninspected vessels, wherever located.

    33 CFR 151.51(a)(1)“Is of United States registry or nationality, or one operated under the authority of the United States, including recreational vessels defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101 and uninspected vessels defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, wherever located; or”

  2. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (f), these sections also apply to a ship operated under the authority of another country while it is in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.

    33 CFR 151.51(a)(2)“Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.”

  3. Sections 151.51 through 151.77 do not apply to a warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in noncommercial service.

    33 CFR 151.51(b)(1)“A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in noncommercial service; or”

  4. Sections 151.51 through 151.77 do not apply to any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL.

    33 CFR 151.51(b)(2)“Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL.”

  5. Section 151.55 (Recordkeeping) applies to a manned ship certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in international voyages.

    33 CFR 151.51(c)(4)“A manned ship that is certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in international voyages.”

  6. Section 151.57 (Garbage Management Plans) applies to a manned ship of 100 gross tons or more operated under another country's authority while in U.S. navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone.

    33 CFR 151.51(d)(3)“A manned ship of 100 gross tons or more that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.”

  7. Section 151.59 (Placards) applies to a manned U.S. ship, other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform, that is 26 feet or more in length.

    33 CFR 151.51(e)(1)“A manned U.S. ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) that is 26 feet or more in length;”

  8. Section 151.73 applies only to a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

    33 CFR 151.51(f)“Section 151.73 (Discharge of Garbage from Fixed or Floating platforms) only applies to a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Common questions

Do the garbage rules apply to warships?

No. Sections 151.51 through 151.77 do not apply to a warship, naval auxiliary, or other country-owned or operated ship engaged in noncommercial service.

“A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in noncommercial service; or”

Do these rules apply to foreign ships in U.S. waters?

Yes, generally. They apply to a ship operated under another country's authority while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States, subject to the exceptions in the section.

“Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.”

Which ships must follow the placard requirement in 33 CFR 151.59?

Section 151.59 covers a manned U.S. ship that is 26 feet or more in length, other than a drilling rig or platform. It also covers certain rigs in transit and certain foreign ships of 40 feet or more in length.

“A manned U.S. ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) that is 26 feet or more in length;”

Who must follow 33 CFR 151.73 on garbage from platforms?

Only a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

“Section 151.73 (Discharge of Garbage from Fixed or Floating platforms) only applies to a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

The text of 33 CFR 151.51

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Applicability

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section, §§ 151.51 through 151.77 apply to each ship that—

(1) Is of United States registry or nationality, or one operated under the authority of the United States, including recreational vessels defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101 and uninspected vessels defined in 46 U.S.C. 2101, wherever located; or

(2) Is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.

(b) Sections 151.51 through 151.77 do not apply to—

(1) A warship, naval auxiliary, or other ship owned or operated by a country when engaged in noncommercial service; or

(2) Any other ship specifically excluded by MARPOL.

(c) Section 151.55 (Recordkeeping) applies to—

(1) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 400 gross tons and above that is documented under the laws of the United States or numbered by a State;

(2) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 400 gross tons and above that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States;

(3) A manned fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(4) A manned ship that is certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in international voyages.

(d) Section 151.57 (Garbage Management Plans) applies to—

(1) A manned oceangoing ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) of 40 feet or more in length that is documented under the laws of the United States or numbered by a state and that either is engaged in commerce or is equipped with a galley and berthing;

(2) A manned fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(3) A manned ship of 100 gross tons or more that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.

(e) Section 151.59 (Placards) applies to—

(1) A manned U.S. ship (other than a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform) that is 26 feet or more in length;

(2) A manned floating drilling rig or other platform in transit that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(3) A manned ship of 40 feet or more in length that is operated under the authority of a country other than the United States while in the navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.

(f) Section 151.73 (Discharge of Garbage from Fixed or Floating platforms) only applies to a fixed or floating drilling rig or other platform subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Note to § 151.51: The Exclusive Economic Zone extends from the baseline of the territorial sea seaward 200 miles as defined in the Presidential Proclamation 5030 of March 10, 1983 (3 CFR, 1983 Comp., p. 22).

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.