42 U.S.C. § 9113 : US Code - Section 9113: Protection of submarine electric transmission cables and equipment

Search 42 U.S.C. § 9113 : US Code - Section 9113: Protection of submarine electric transmission cables and equipment

(a) Prohibited acts; misdemeanor; penalty and fine
Any person who shall willfully and wrongfully break or injure, or
attempt to break or injure, or who shall in any manner procure,
counsel, aid, abet, or be accessory to such breaking or injury, or
attempt to break or injure, any submarine electric transmission
cable or equipment being constructed or operated under a license
issued pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and, on conviction thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 2 years, or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or
to both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
(b) Culpable negligence; misdemeanor; penalty and fine
Any person who by culpable negligence shall break or injure any
submarine electric transmission cable or equipment being
constructed or operated under a license issued pursuant to this
chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction
thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3
months, or to a fine not exceeding $500, or to both fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
(c) Exceptions
The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall
not apply to any person who, after having taken all necessary
precautions to avoid such breaking or injury, breaks or injures any
submarine electric transmission cable or equipment in an effort to
save the life or limb of himself or of any other person, or to save
his own or any other vessel.
(d) Suits for damages
The penalties provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section
for the breaking or injury of any submarine electric transmission
cable or equipment shall not be a bar to a suit for damages on
account of such breaking or injury.
(e) Indemnity
Whenever any vessel sacrifices any anchor, fishing net, or other
fishing gear to avoid injuring any submarine electric transmission
cable or equipment being constructed or operated under a license
issued pursuant to this chapter, the licensee shall indemnify the
owner of such vessel for the items sacrificed: Provided, That the
owner of the vessel had taken all reasonable precautionary measures
beforehand.
(f) Repair costs
Any licensee who causes any break in or injury to any submarine
cable or pipeline of any type shall bear the cost of the repairs.