---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1478"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1478"
heading: "Personal, flag state, and foreign state considerations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1478"
units:
  - "Chapter 28 — Pollution Casualties on the High Seas: United States Intervention"
---

# §1478. Personal, flag state, and foreign state considerations


In the direction and conduct of measures under this chapter the [Secretary](/usc/33/1471.md?p=4) shall use his best endeavors to—

- (1) assure the avoidance of risk to human life;
- (2) render all possible aid to distressed persons, including facilitating repatriation of [ships](/usc/33/1471.md?p=5)’ crews; and
- (3) not unnecessarily interfere with rights and interests of others, including the flag state of any [ship](/usc/33/1471.md?p=5) involved, other foreign states threatened by damage, and persons otherwise concerned.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–248, § 9, Feb. 5, 1974, 88 Stat. 9.)