--- kind: "range" citation: "18 U.S.C. §§ 963–967" title: "18" from: "963" to: "967" count: 5 release: "119-102" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/963..967" --- # §963. Detention of armed vessel - (a) During a war in which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is a neutral nation, the President, or any person authorized by him, may detain any armed vessel owned wholly or in part by citizens of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), or any vessel, domestic or foreign (other than one which has entered the ports of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) as a public vessel), which is manifestly built for warlike purposes or has been converted or adapted from a private vessel to one suitable for warlike use, until the owner or master, or person having charge of such vessel, shall furnish proof satisfactory to the President, or to the person duly authorized by him, that the vessel will not be employed to cruise against or commit or attempt to commit hostilities upon the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or [state](/usc/18/402.md), or of any colony, district, or people with which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is at peace, and that the said vessel will not be sold or delivered to any belligerent nation, or to an agent, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or citizen of such nation, by them or any of them, within the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), or upon the high seas. - (b) Whoever, in violation of this section takes, or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). # §964. Delivering armed vessel to belligerent nation - (a) During a war in which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is a neutral nation, it shall be unlawful to send out of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) any vessel built, armed, or equipped as a vessel of war, or converted from a private vessel into a vessel of war, with any intent or under any agreement or contract that such vessel will be delivered to a belligerent nation, or to an agent, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), or citizen of such nation, or with reasonable cause to believe that the said vessel will be employed in the service of any such belligerent nation after its departure from the jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). - (b) Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). # §965. Verified statements as prerequisite to vessel’s departure - (a) During a war in which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is a neutral nation, every master or person having charge or command of any vessel, domestic or foreign, whether requiring clearance or not, before departure of such vessel from port shall, in addition to the facts required by section 431 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1431](/usc/19/1431.md)) and [section 60105 of title 46](/usc/46/60105.md), to be set out in the masters’ and shippers’ manifests before clearance will be issued to vessels bound to foreign ports, deliver to the Customs Service a statement, duly verified by oath, that the cargo or any part of the cargo is or is not to be delivered to other vessels in port or to be transshipped on the high seas, and, if it is to be so delivered or transshipped, stating the kind and quantities and the value of the total quantity of each kind of article so to be delivered or transshipped, and the name of the person, corporation, vessel, or government to whom the delivery or transshipment is to be made; and the owners, shippers, or consignors of the cargo of such vessel shall in the same manner and under the same conditions deliver to the Customs Service like statements under oath as to the cargo or the parts thereof laden or shipped by them, respectively. - (b) Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to promulgate regulations upon compliance with which vessels engaged in the coastwise trade or fisheries or used solely for pleasure may be relieved from complying with this section. # §966. Departure of vessel forbidden for false statements - (a) Whenever it appears that the vessel is not entitled to clearance or whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that the additional statements under oath required in [section 965 of this title](/usc/18/965.md) are false, the collector of customs for the district in which the vessel is located may, subject to review by the head of the [department](/usc/18/6.md) or [agency](/usc/18/6.md) charged with the administration of laws relating to clearance of vessels, refuse clearance to any vessel, domestic or foreign, and by formal notice served upon the owners, master, or person or persons in command or charge of any domestic vessel for which clearance is not required by law, forbid the departure of the vessel from the port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). It shall thereupon be unlawful for the vessel to depart. - (b) Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md). # §967. Departure of vessel forbidden in aid of neutrality - (a) During a war in which the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) is a neutral nation, the President, or any person authorized by him, may withhold clearance from or to any vessel, domestic or foreign, or, by service of formal notice upon the owner, master, or person in command or in charge of any domestic vessel not required to secure clearances, may forbid its departure from port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that such vessel is about to carry fuel, arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2), men, supplies, dispatches, or information to any warship, tender, or supply ship of a foreign belligerent nation in violation of the laws, treaties, or obligations of the [United States](/usc/18/5.md) under the law of nations. It shall thereupon be unlawful for such vessel to depart. - (b) Whoever, in violation of this section, takes or attempts to take, or authorizes the taking of any such vessel, out of port or from the [United States](/usc/18/5.md), shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. In addition, such vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, equipment, and her cargo shall be forfeited to the [United States](/usc/18/5.md).