---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2281a"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2281a"
heading: "Additional offenses against maritime fixed platforms"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2281a"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 111 — Shipping"
---

# §2281a. Additional offenses against maritime fixed platforms

- (a) **Offenses.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who unlawfully and intentionally—
    - (A) when the purpose of the act, by its nature or context, is to intimidate a population, or to compel a government or an international [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) to do or to abstain from doing any act—
      - (i) uses against or on a fixed platform or discharges from a fixed platform any [explosive](/usc/18/841.md?p=d) or radioactive material, biological, chemical, or nuclear weapon in a manner that causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury or damage; or
      - (ii) discharges from a fixed platform oil, liquefied natural gas, or another hazardous or noxious substance that is not covered by [clause (i)](#a-1-A-i), in such quantity or concentration that causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury or damage;
    - (B) injures or kills any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in connection with the commission or the attempted commission of any of the offenses set forth in [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A); or
    - (C) attempts or conspires to do anything prohibited under subparagraph [(A)](#a-1-A) or [(B)](#a-1-B),

    shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and if death results to any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) from conduct prohibited by this paragraph, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

  - (2) **Threat to safety.—** A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who threatens, with apparent determination and will to carry the threat into execution, to do any act prohibited under [paragraph (1)(A)](#a-1-A), shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
- (b) **Jurisdiction.—** There is jurisdiction over the activity prohibited in [subsection (a)](#a) if—
  - (1) such activity is committed against or on board a fixed platform—
    - (A) that is located on the continental shelf of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9);
    - (B) that is located on the continental shelf of another country, by a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5) or by a stateless [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) whose habitual residence is in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); or
    - (C) in an attempt to compel the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) to do or abstain from doing any act;
  - (2) during the commission of such activity against or on board a fixed platform located on a continental shelf, a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5) is seized, threatened, injured, or killed; or
  - (3) such activity is committed against or on board a fixed platform located outside the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) and beyond the continental shelf of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) and the offender is later found in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9).
- (c) **Exceptions.—** This section does not apply to—
  - (1) the activities of armed forces during an armed conflict, as those terms are understood under the law of war, which are governed by that law; or
  - (2) activities undertaken by [military forces](/usc/18/2331.md?p=6) of a [state](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) in the exercise of their official duties.
- (d) **Definitions.—** In this section—
  - (1) “continental shelf” means the sea-bed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond a country’s territorial sea to the limits provided by customary international law as reflected in Article 76 of the 1982 [Convention](/usc/18/229F.md?p=2) on the Law of the Sea; and
  - (2) “fixed platform” means an artificial island, installation, or structure permanently attached to the sea-bed for the purpose of exploration or exploitation of resources or for other economic purposes.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–23, title VIII, § 804(a), June 2, 2015, 129 Stat. 307.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2280(d) of this title.