--- kind: "section" citation: "46 U.S.C. § 3318" title: "46" title_heading: "Shipping" number: "3318" heading: "Penalties" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/3318" units: - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen" - "Part B — Inspection and Regulation of Vessels" - "Chapter 33 — Inspection Generally" --- # §3318. Penalties - (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of a vessel operated in violation of this part or a regulation prescribed under this part, and a [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) violating a regulation that applies to a [small passenger vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=49), [freight vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=15) of less than 100 gross tons as measured under [section 14502 of this title](/usc/46/14502.md), or an alternate tonnage measured under [section 14302 of this title](/usc/46/14302.md) as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 14104 of this title](/usc/46/14104.md), or [sailing school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=42), are liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. - (b) - (1) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) that knowingly manufactures, sells, offers for sale, or possesses with intent to sell, any equipment subject to this part, and the equipment is so defective as to be insufficient to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended, commits a class D felony. - (2) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) commits a class D felony if the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3)— - (A) alters or services lifesaving, fire safety, or any other equipment subject to this part for compensation; and - (B) by that alteration or servicing, intentionally renders that equipment unsafe and unfit for the purpose for which it is intended. - (c) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) that employs a means or device whereby a boiler may be subjected to a pressure greater than allowed by the terms of the vessel’s certificate of inspection commits a class D felony. - (d) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) that deranges or hinders the operation of any machinery or device employed on a vessel to denote the state of steam or water in any boiler or to give warning of approaching danger, or permits the water level of any boiler when in operation of a vessel to fall below its prescribed low-water line, commits a class D felony. - (e) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) that alters, defaces, obliterates, removes, or destroys any plans or specifications required by and approved under a regulation prescribed under [section 3306 of this title](/usc/46/3306.md), with intent to deceive or impede any official of the United States in carrying out that official’s duties, commits a class A misdemeanor. - (f) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) commits a class D felony if the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3)— - (1) forges or counterfeits with intent to make it appear genuine any mark or stamp prescribed for material to be tested and approved under [section 3306 of this title](/usc/46/3306.md) or a regulation prescribed under [section 3306](/usc/46/3306.md); - (2) knowingly uses, affixes, or causes to be used or affixed, any such forged or counterfeited mark or stamp to or on material of any description; - (3) with fraudulent intent, possesses any such mark, stamp, or other device knowing it to be forged or counterfeited; or - (4) with fraudulent intent, marks or causes to be marked with the trademark or name of another, material required to be tested and approved under [section 3306 of this title](/usc/46/3306.md) or a regulation prescribed under section 3306. - (g) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000, if the [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3)— - (1) interferes with the inspection of a [nautical school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=24); - (2) violates a regulation prescribed for a [nautical school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=24); - (3) is an [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2) of a [nautical school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=24) operated in violation of this part; or - (4) is an officer or member of the board of directors of a school, organization, association, partnership, or corporation owning a [nautical school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=24) operated in violation of a regulation prescribed for a [nautical school vessel](/usc/46/2101.md?p=24). - (h) An [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of a vessel that fails to give the notice required by [section 3304(b) of this title](/usc/46/3304.md?p=b) is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. - (i) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) violating [section 3309(c) of this title](/usc/46/3309.md?p=c) is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. - (j) - (1) An [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of a vessel required to be inspected under this chapter operating the vessel without the certificate of inspection is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day during which the violation occurs, except when the violation involves operation of a vessel of less than 1,600 gross tons as measured under [section 14502 of this title](/usc/46/14502.md), or an alternate tonnage measured under [section 14302 of this title](/usc/46/14302.md) as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 14104 of this title](/usc/46/14104.md), the penalty is not more than $2,000 for each day during which the violation occurs. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. - (2) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) is not liable for a penalty under this subsection if— - (A) the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of the vessel has notified the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 3309(c) of this title](/usc/46/3309.md?p=c); - (B) the [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of the vessel has complied with all other directions and requirements for obtaining an inspection under this part; and - (C) the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) believes that unforeseen circumstances exist so that it is not feasible to conduct a scheduled inspection before the expiration of the certificate of inspection. - (k) The [owner](/usc/46/10101.md?p=2), charterer, managing operator, agent, [master](/usc/46/10101.md?p=1), or individual in charge of a vessel failing to comply with a direction issued by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) under [section 3311(b) of this title](/usc/46/3311.md?p=b) is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day during which the violation occurs. The vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. - (l) A [person](/usc/46/3701.md?p=3) committing an act described by [subsections (b)](#b)–(f) of this section is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000. If the violation involves the operation of a vessel, the vessel also is liable in rem for the penalty. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 517; Pub. L. 98–498, title II, § 211(c), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2304; Pub. L. 99–307, § 1(6), May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 445; Pub. L. 101–380, title IV, § 4302(b), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 538; Pub. L. 104–324, title III, § 310, title VII, § 713, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3919, 3936; Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(13), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1703.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | --- | --- | | Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) | | 3318 | 46:369(e)
46:390d
46:398
46:403
46:407
46:408
46:410
46:413
46:436
46:481(d)
46:1295f(d)(2), (3) | Section 3318 provides for a number of specific civil and criminal penalties. ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2006—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–304 struck out period after “felony”. 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–324, § 713(1), inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “100 gross tons”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–324, § 310, designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2). Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 104–324, § 713(2), inserted “as measured under section 14502 of this title, or an alternate tonnage measured under section 14302 of this title as prescribed by the Secretary under section 14104 of this title” after “1,600 gross tons”. 1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(b)(1), substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(b)(2), substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(b)(3), substituted “commits a class D felony” for “shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(b)(4), substituted “commits a class A misdemeanor” for “shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–380, § 4302(b)(5), substituted “commits a class D felony.” for “shall be fined not less than $1,000 but not more than $10,000, and imprisoned for not less than 2 years but not more than 5 years,”. 1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–307 in provision preceding par. (1) substituted “than” for “then” in two places. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(1), substituted “Except as otherwise provided in this part, the” for “The” and “not more than $5,000” for “$1,000, except that when the violation involves operation of a barge, the penalty is $500”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(2), substituted “$5,000” for “$2,000”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(3), substituted “$5,000” for “$2,000”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(4), substituted “$10,000” for “$2,000”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(5), substituted “$10,000” for “$5,000”. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(6), substituted “is liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not more than $5,000” for “shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(7), substituted “Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.” for “United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $500.” Subsecs. (i) to (l). Pub. L. 98–498, § 211(c)(8), added subsecs. (i) to (l). ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. ### Effective Date Section effective Apr. 15, 1984, see section 2(g)(1) of Pub. L. 98–89, set out as a note under section 3101 of this title.