Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2195: Abandonment of sailors

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A vessel master who maliciously abandons crew members in foreign ports or refuses to bring willing crew home commits an offense punishable by fine and/or up to six months imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, being master or commander of a vessel of the United States, while abroad, maliciously and without justifiable cause forces any officer or mariner of such vessel on shore, in order to leave him behind in any foreign port or place, or refuses to bring home again all such officers and mariners of such vessel whom he carried out with him, as are in a condition to return and willing to return, when he is ready to proceed on his homeward voyage, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

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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.