Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§2272 Destruction of Vessel by Owner
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 111 — SHIPPING › § 2272
Summary
Deliberately wrecking or destroying a ship you own on the high seas or other U.S. maritime waters to harm an insurer, a merchant with cargo, or another owner can lead to prison for life or for any term of years.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2272
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, 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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 491 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 300, 35 Stat. 1147).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2272
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102