33 U.S.C. § 409 : US Code - Section 409: Obstruction of navigable waters by vessels; floating timber; marking and removal of sunken vessels

Search 33 U.S.C. § 409 : US Code - Section 409: Obstruction of navigable waters by vessels; floating timber; marking and removal of sunken vessels

It shall not be lawful to tie up or anchor vessels or other craft
in navigable channels in such a manner as to prevent or obstruct
the passage of other vessels or craft; or to sink, or permit or
cause to be sunk, vessels or other craft in navigable channels; or
to float loose timber and logs, or to float what is known as "sack
rafts of timber and logs" in streams or channels actually navigated
by steamboats in such manner as to obstruct, impede, or endanger
navigation. And whenever a vessel, raft or other craft is wrecked
and sunk in a navigable channel, it shall be the duty of the owner,
lessee, or operator of such sunken craft to immediately mark it
with a buoy or beacon during the day and, unless otherwise granted
a waiver by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, a light at night,
and to maintain such marks until the sunken craft is removed or
abandoned, and the neglect or failure of the said owner, lessee, or
operator so to do shall be unlawful; and it shall be the duty of
the owner, lessee, or operator of such sunken craft to commence the
immediate removal of the same, and prosecute such removal
diligently, and failure to do so shall be considered as an
abandonment of such craft, and subject the same to removal by the
United States as provided for in sections 411 to 416, 418, and 502
of this title. The Commandant of the Coast Guard may waive the
requirement to mark a wrecked vessel, raft, or other craft with a
light at night if the Commandant determines that placing a light
would be impractical and granting such a waiver would not create an
undue hazard to navigation.