Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
Public Law 96-478 · H.R. 6665 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 21, 1980 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Rep. John Murphy (D-NY-17)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Mario Biaggi, Rep. Edward Stack,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(House agreed to certain Senate amendment with amendment)
Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships - Implements the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPOL Protocol).
Applies this Act to ships of United States registry or nationality or of a country party to the MARPOL Protocol and ships registered in or of the nationality of a country not a party to the MARPOL Protocol traveling in all waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Exempts: (1) warships, naval auxiliaries, or other ships owned by the United States while engaged in noncommercial service, subject to standards prescribed by the appropriate Federal departments and agencies; and (2) other ships specifically excluded by the MARPOL Protocol.
Authorizes the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to administer, enforce, and prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of the MARPOL Protocol and this Act, utilizing other Federal departments and agencies as necessary.
Authorizes the Secretary to designate persons to issue certificates required by the MARPOL Protocol. Directs that: (1) certificates shall not be issued to ships of countries not a party to the MARPOL Protocol; and (2) certificates issued by a participating country of the MARPOL Protocol shall be honored. Subjects to inspection any ship required to carry a valid certificate. Directs the Secretary to detain any ship required to have a certificate which either does not have one on board or has a condition in disagreement with the certificate until such ship can proceed to sea without presenting an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment. Allows any person whose ship is detained to petition the Secretary. Permits compensation for any loss or damage suffered by a ship unreasonably detained or delayed.
Directs the Secretary, after consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to establish regulations for determining the adequacy of reception facilities of a port or terminal, and to issue certificates indicating that facilities for receiving residues and mixtures containing oil or noxious liquid substances from seagoing ships are adequate. States conditions under which such certificates can be inspected, suspended, or revoked. Requires the listing of such certified ports and terminals in the Federal Register.
Allows the Secretary to deny entry to any ship retaining residues and mixtures containing oil or noxious liquids into a port or terminal required to have but not holding a valid certificate.
Requires immediate reporting of any incident covered by the Protocol to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to investigate any such report of violation and take appropriate action, acting through the Secretary of State in cases involving a ship not of United States registry or nationality.
Imposes a fine of not more than $50,000 for each violation or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, and a civil penalty of not more than $25,000, or $5,000 in cases of false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations. Deems a ship liable in rem for any pecuniary fine or penalty incurred. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to refuse or revoke clearance required by Federal law (R.S. 4197) to any ship liable for such a penalty.
Sets forth procedures to be taken in accepting a proposed amendment to the MARPOL Protocol received by the United States from the Secretary-General of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization.
Permits any person having an interest adversely affected by: (1) any person who is alleged to be in violation of these provisions; or (2) a Secretary who is alleged to be in neglect in performing duties under this Act, to bring suit against such party, subject to specified procedures and jurisdictions. Authorizes the court to award costs of litigation. Allows the Attorney General to intervene in any action not involving the United States.
Repeals the Oil Pollution Act, 1961, and the Oil Pollution Act Amendments of 1973.
Authorizes the Secretary to inspect vessels subject to this Act, except public vessels engaged in noncommercial service entering navigable waters of and documented under the laws of the United States.
Directs the Secretary and the heads of Federal departments to issue regulations, standards, and certificates upon enactment of this Act.
Directs that nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting, diminishing, or otherwise restricting the authority of the Secretary under the Port and Tanker Safety Act of 1978.
Amends the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to extend, through September 30, 1982, the fisheries loan fund.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 16 actions.
- Oct 21, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-478.
- Oct 10, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 9, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 8, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 1, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendment.
- Sep 30, 1980Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendment with amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments.
- Sep 23, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 22, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Aug 20, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Aug 18, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- Feb 28, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.