Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2272: Destruction of vessel by owner

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A vessel owner who willfully destroys a ship on U.S. waters with intent to harm insurers, merchants with cargo, or other owners faces imprisonment for life or a term of years.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, upon the high seas or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, willfully and corruptly casts away or otherwise destroys any vessel of which he is owner, in whole or in part, with intent to injure any person that may underwrite any policy of insurance thereon, or any merchant that may have goods thereon, or any other owner of such vessel, shall be imprisoned for life or for any term of years.

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.