---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2275"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2275"
heading: "Firing or tampering with vessels"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2275"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 111 — Shipping"
---

# §2275. Firing or tampering with vessels


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) sets fire to any vessel of foreign registry, or any vessel of American registry entitled to engage in [commerce](/usc/18/232.md?p=2) with foreign nations, or to any vessel of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or to the cargo of the same, or tampers with the motive power of instrumentalities of navigation of such vessel, or places bombs or [explosives](/usc/18/841.md?p=d) in or upon such vessel, or does any other act to or upon such vessel while within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or, if such vessel is of American registry, while she is on the high sea, with intent to injure or endanger the safety of the vessel or of her cargo, or of [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) on board, whether the injury or danger is so intended to take place within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or after the vessel shall have departed therefrom and [whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) attempts to do so shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 804; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 502 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title III, § 1, 40 Stat. 221).

Words “as defined in section 501 of this title,” were omitted in view of section 9 of this title, defining vessel of the United States.

Last sentence of said section 502, defining “United States”, was incorporated in section 5 of this title.

Provision prohibiting conspiracy was deleted as adequately covered by the general conspiracy statute, section 371 of this title.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.