Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1656: Conversion or surrender of vessel

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A ship officer or crew member who steals a vessel or cargo worth $50+ on U.S. waters, or voluntarily surrenders a vessel to pirates, commits a federal crime punishable by fine and/or up to ten years imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, being a captain or other officer or mariner of a vessel upon the high seas or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, piratically or feloniously runs away with such vessel, or with any goods or merchandise thereof, to the value of $50 or over; or Whoever yields up such vessel voluntarily to any pirate— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.