---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2282A"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2282A"
heading: "Devices or dangerous substances in waters of the United States likely to destroy or damage ships or to interfere with maritime commerce"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2282A"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 111 — Shipping"
---

# §2282A. Devices or dangerous substances in waters of the United States likely to destroy or damage ships or to interfere with maritime commerce

- (a) A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who knowingly places, or causes to be placed, in navigable waters of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), by any means, a device or dangerous substance which is likely to destroy or cause damage to a vessel or its cargo, cause interference with the safe navigation of vessels, or interference with maritime [commerce](/usc/18/232.md?p=2) (such as by damaging or destroying marine terminals, facilities, or any other marine structure or entity used in maritime [commerce](/usc/18/232.md?p=2)) with the intent of causing such destruction or damage, interference with the safe navigation of vessels, or interference with maritime [commerce](/usc/18/232.md?p=2) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years, or for life; or both.
- (b) A [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who causes the death of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) by engaging in conduct prohibited under [subsection (a)](#a) may be punished by death.
- (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to otherwise lawfully authorized and conducted activities of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) Government.
- (d) In this section:
  - (1) The term “dangerous substance” means any solid, liquid, or gaseous material that has the capacity to cause damage to a vessel or its cargo, or cause interference with the safe navigation of a vessel.
  - (2) The term “device” means any object that, because of its physical, mechanical, structural, or chemical properties, has the capacity to cause damage to a vessel or its cargo, or cause interference with the safe navigation of a vessel.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. No section 2282 has been enacted.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 109–177, title III, § 304(a)(1), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 234.)