Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§2276 Breaking and entering vessel
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 111— - SHIPPING › § 2276
Summary
Breaking into a vessel on the high seas or in U.S. maritime waters outside any state with felonious intent, or maliciously damaging mooring gear (like lines or buoys), is punishable by a fine, up to five years' imprisonment, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2276
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, upon the high seas or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State, breaks or enters any vessel with intent to commit any felony, or maliciously cuts, spoils, or destroys any cordage, cable, buoys, buoy rope, head fast, or other fast, fixed to the anchor or moorings belonging to any vessel, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 490 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 299, 35 Stat. 1147). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2276
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73