Possession of slaves aboard vessel
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, being the captain, master, or commander of any vessel found in any river, port, bay, harbor, or on the high seas within the jurisdiction of the United States, or hovering off the coast thereof, and having on board any person for the purpose of selling such person as a slave, or with intent to land such person for such purpose, shall be or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 115–392, §11(1)(B), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5255.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for a ship's captain, in U.S. waters or off the U.S. coast, to have anyone on board in order to sell them as a slave or land them for that purpose.