47 U.S.C. § 24 — Vessels laying cables; signals; avoidance of buoys

This law sets rules for ship captains near submarine cable work, and punishes captains who break them. First, the master of a vessel laying or repairing submarine cables must observe the rules on signals that have been, or will be, adopted by the parties to the convention described in section 30 of this title, meant to prevent collisions at sea. Second, the master of a vessel who perceives, or is able to perceive, those signals displayed on a telegraph ship engaged in repairing a cable, must withdraw to, or keep at, a distance of at least one nautical mile. Third, the master of a vessel who sees, or is able to see, buoys marking the position of a cable that is being laid or is out of order or broken, must keep at a distance of at least a quarter of a nautical mile. A master who fails to do any of these things is guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or to a fine not exceeding $500.