USA

US laws in environmental cases

Various US laws are available to criminally prosecute owners, masters, crew in an environmental offence such as MARPOL and we suggest owners are aware of the potential seriousness of these violations when trading to the US.

许多现有的美国法律规定对船东，船长和船员违反环境污染法规诸如国际防污染公约（MARPOL）等课以刑事处罚，我们提请船东明白去美国的船舶对以上违犯的潜在的严重后果。

Act to prevent pollution from ships

防止船舶造成污染法令

Adopts as US law the provisions of MARPOL. It is a class D felony to knowingly commit a MARPOL offence. This is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to US$250,000 for an individual and US$500,000 for a company. A vessel violating MARPOL may be arrested and sold to satisfy the fine. The security requested by the Coast Guard is a US$500,000 surety bond, and a P&I Club LOU may not be acceptable.

根据MARPOL条文制定的美国法律规定故意违反MARPOL将定为D级重罪，并对个人处以最多10年的监禁和最高25万美元的罚款，对公司处以最高50万美元的罚款。违反MARPOL的船舶将被扣留并卖出用来偿付罚款。海岸警卫队要求出具一份50万美元的履约担保，而且不接受保赔协会的担保。

The US authorities may revoke departure clearance for the vessel and detain the vessel where there is reasonable cause to believe the ship, owner or opertair may have committed a MARPOL offence.

美国当局有权在有合理的理由认为船舶、船东或船舶经营人违反了MARPOL的规定时撤回船舶离港证并扣留船舶。

Clean Water Act

水域清洁法令

This Act prohibits the discharge of any pollutant into the waters of US or the contiguous zone. Failure to report a discharge may be punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years.

该法令禁止向美国的水域或其临近区域排放任何污染物质。不上报而擅自排放污染物质的将被处以最多5年的监禁。

Rivers and Harbour Act

河流和港口法令

This Act prohibits the discharge of refuse of any kind into US waters, and the defination includes oil. Violation of the Act is a strict liability offence. Although it is said by some Clubs that strict liability offences are not covered under P&I Club rules, we are of the opinion if such offences are a result of negligence of the crew and there is no wrongdoing by the owners or the managers, we consider the P&I Club should not take a position to exclude a strict liability claim.

该法令禁止向美国的任何水域倾倒任何种类的废物，这其中包括油类。违反此条法令是严格赔偿责任的违法行为。虽然有些协会声称严格赔偿责任的违法行为不属于保赔协会规则的承保范围，但是我们认为如果这些过错是由于船员的疏忽，也不存在船东和经管人漫不经心的行为，保赔协会没有理由将严格赔偿责任作为除外责任。

False Statements Act

伪证法令

There is a violation if concealment is found where disclosure is required by statute or form. A false entry in a vessel's oil record book is a ground for an indictment resulting in fines and imprisonment. We would advise these consequences would not fall under P&I Club cover and owners are strongly advised to educate their crew on the seriousness of these laws.

隐瞒法令或制度规定必须公开的事实是一种违规行为。伪造船舶油类记录本记载内容将被控告并处以罚款和监禁。我们忠告这些结果将不属于保赔协会的承保范围，并强烈建议船东教育他们的船员了解这些法律的严重性。

Perjury and witness tampering

作伪证及贿赂证人

US laws provide for severe penalties for false information to a Government representative. Influencing, witness tampering, corrupting officials and destroying evidence results in a criminal offence with imprisonment of up to 10 years. These consequences do not fall under P&I Club cover.

美国法律严格处罚向政府代表提供虚假报告的行为。影响、贿赂证人、腐败官员和销毁证据导致犯罪的将处以最高10年的监禁。这些后果不属于保赔协会保单范围。