33 U.S.C. § 1472 : US Code - Section 1472: Grave and imminent danger from oil pollution casualties to coastline or related interests of United States; Federal nonliability for Federal preventive measures on the high seas

Search 33 U.S.C. § 1472 : US Code - Section 1472: Grave and imminent danger from oil pollution casualties to coastline or related interests of United States; Federal nonliability for Federal preventive measures on the high seas

Whenever a ship collision, stranding, or other incident of
navigation or other occurrence on board a ship or external to it
resulting in material damage or imminent threat of material damage
to the ship or her cargo creates, as determined by the Secretary, a
grave and imminent danger to the coastline or related interests of
the United States from pollution or threat of pollution of the sea
by convention oil or of the sea or atmosphere by a substance other
than convention oil which may reasonably be expected to result in
major harmful consequences, the Secretary may, except as provided
for in section 1479 of this title, without liability for any damage
to the owners or operators of the ship, to her cargo or crew, to
underwriters or other parties interested therein, take measures on
the high seas, in accordance with the provisions of the convention,
the protocol and this chapter, to prevent, mitigate, or eliminate
that danger.