Corruption of seamen and confederating with pirates
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever to corrupt any commander, master, officer, or mariner to yield up or to run away with any vessel, or any goods, wares, or merchandise, or to turn pirate or to go over to or confederate with pirates, or in any wise to trade with any pirate, knowing him to be such; or
Whoever furnishes such pirate with any ammunition, stores, or provisions of any kind; or
Whoever fits out any vessel knowingly and, with a design to trade with, supply, or correspond with any pirate or robber upon the seas; or
Whoever consults, combines, confederates, or corresponds with any pirate or robber upon the seas, knowing him to be guilty of any piracy or robbery; or
Whoever, being a seaman, confines the master of any vessel—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 775 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, §2527(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4877 (PDF, 27 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to try to persuade a ship's officers or crew to hand over or run away with a ship or cargo or to join pirates, or to knowingly trade with, supply, or work with pirates or sea robbers. It is also a crime for a sailor to confine the ship's master.