Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§2195 Abandonment of Sailors
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 107 — SEAMEN AND STOWAWAYS › § 2195
Summary
A U.S. ship captain abroad who intentionally leaves a crew member ashore without a good reason, or refuses to bring back able and willing crew when sailing home, can be punished. They may be fined, jailed up to six months, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2195
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 486 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 295, 35 Stat. 1146).
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2195
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102