§2291 Destruction of vessel or maritime facility

Summary

It is a crime to intentionally damage, destroy, stop working, set fire to, or wreck any ship or to put bombs, explosives, or dangerous substances in, on, or near a ship or anything used to operate, load, unload, or store a ship or its cargo. It is also a crime to do the same to or to use force against maritime places and equipment like ports, locks, canals, navigation aids, or vessel traffic facilities if that action could endanger a ship. The law also bans intentionally hurting or knocking out a person on a ship if that will likely endanger the ship or people on it, causing or threatening serious injury near equipment used with ships, or giving false information that could reasonably be believed and that endangers a ship. Trying or planning to do any of these things is also illegal. Normal, legal work such as repair, salvage, or transporting hazardous materials under federal rules is not covered. If the crime involved a ship that was carrying high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel, the offender can be fined and/or imprisoned for up to life. If the crime was meant to kill and someone died, the punishment can be the death penalty or life in prison. Making a believable threat to do any of these acts can lead to fines, up to 5 years in prison, and paying the costs caused by the threat.