---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 1906"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "1906"
heading: "Incidents involving ships"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/1906"
units:
  - "Chapter 33 — Prevention of Pollution from Ships"
---

# §1906. Incidents involving ships

- (a) **Requirement to report incident—** The master, [person](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-10) in charge, [owner](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-8), charterer, manager, or [operator](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-9) of a [ship](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-12) involved in an incident shall report the incident in the manner prescribed by Article 8 of the [Convention](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-5) in accordance with regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-11) for that purpose.
- (b) **Requirement to report discharge, probable discharge, or presence of oil—** The master or [person](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-10) in charge of—
  - (1) a [ship](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-12) of United States registry or nationality, or operated under the authority of the United States, wherever located;
  - (2) another [ship](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-12) while in the [navigable waters](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-7) of the United States; or
  - (3) a sea port or oil handling facility subject to the jurisdiction of the United States,

  shall report a discharge, probable discharge, or presence of oil in the manner prescribed by Article 4 of the International [Convention](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-5) on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990 (adopted at London, November 30, 1990), in accordance with regulations promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/33/1901.md?p=a-11) for that purpose.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–478, § 7, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2300; Pub. L. 102–241, § 39, Dec. 19, 1991, 105 Stat. 2225.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–241 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows:

“(a) As soon as he has knowledge of an incident, the master or other person in charge of a ship shall report it to the Secretary in the manner prescribed by Article 8 of the Convention.

“(b) Upon receipt of the report of an incident involving a ship, other than one of United States registry or nationality or one operated under the authority of the United States, the Secretary shall take the action required by Article 8 of the Convention.”