2019 U.S. Virgin Islands Code
Title 12 - Conservation
Chapter 17 - Oil Spill Prevention and Pollution Control
§ 708. Duties of harbor master

Universal Citation:
V.I. Code tit. 12, § 708 (2019)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
Previous Next

  • (1) The pilot and the master of a vessel causing a discharge shall be required immediately to report the discharge to the harbor master and to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard station. The harbor master, on being notified of a discharge, shall immediately notify the response team of the Department and the U.S. Coast Guard and shall keep them fully informed of the need for containment equipment and emergency action.

  • (2) The harbor master shall have the authority to enter into any port or terminal facility during normal hours of operation and to board any vessel prior to its entry into port in order to ascertain the seaworthiness of the vessel and the presence of required containment gear. Upon being notified of a discharge the harbor master shall have authority to direct the vessel to anchor immediately or move to a specific dock and deploy containment gear or to move to the open seas and to take such other measures as he deems necessary. The harbor master shall have the additional duty to inspect any terminal facility in his port to determine that adequate containment gear is on hand at the terminal facility.

  • (3) A harbor master who refuses entry of any vessel into the port under his charge shall be required to notify all other ports in the territory of his refusal of entry of that vessel.

Previous Next
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. US Virgin Islands may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.