2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 25 - Navigation
Chapter 16 - Mooring and Anchoring of Vessels and Houseboats
§ 408. Unseaworthy and derelict vessels, houseboats, refuse and pollutants

(a) No person shall moor or anchor a derelict or unseaworthy vessel or houseboat in a designated mooring or anchoring area. No permit shall be granted for any vessel or houseboat considered by the Department to be unseaworthy or derelict. The Department may remove an unseaworthy or derelict vessel or houseboat in accordance with the provisions of section 404 of this chapter.

(b) The owner of a vessel or houseboat sunk or wrecked within the designated mooring or anchoring area is responsible for marking its position and providing for the raising and disposition of the vessel or houseboat within thirty (30) days. The owner shall be liable for any damage to public property, to the environment, and to other vessels or houseboats caused by the owner's vessel or houseboat. Whenever a designated mooring or anchoring area is obstructed or endangered by a sunken or wrecked vessel or houseboat, and the obstruction or wreck has existed for more than thirty (30) days, or whenever the abandonment can be legally established, the Department, after having given reasonable public notice of not less than thirty (30) days, may remove and dispose of the sunken or wrecked vessel or houseboat; provided, however, that the Department may act sooner if said vessel or houseboat is determined to be a hazard to the marine traffic or the environment. The cost of removal shall be borne by the owner or resident agent.

(c) No person shall throw, discard, discharge or deposit refuse of any kind into the shoreline areas or territorial waters of the Virgin Islands. No person shall dump or discharge pollutants such as gas, oil, petroleum products, sewage, or any other pollutants into the territorial waters of the Virgin Islands. Any person who discharges, dumps, or deposits refuse or pollutants in violation of this chapter shall immediately remove or arrange for the removal of such refuse or pollutants to the Department's satisfaction. If the vessel's owner or the person responsible for the violation fails to so act, the Department may arrange for removal and clean-up and may contract with and retain agents for such purpose, and the costs thereof, shall be borne by the owner and any person responsible for the discharge, discarding, dumping, or depositing of the refuse or pollutants.

(d) The owner of a vessel or houseboat is responsible for keeping the vessel or houseboat and the mooring area in a clean and orderly condition. No person shall conduct any maintenance or conditioning activity, including but not limited to, spray painting, sand blasting, sanding, paint removal, or other activity, that the Department would consider as having an adverse impact on the air and water quality, or on other vessels in the mooring or anchoring area, or would be in violation of any Federal or Territorial law or regulation.

(e) Except as provided in section 409 of this chapter, any person who violates the provisions of this section may be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each offense.