Conspiracy to destroy vessels
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, on the high seas, or within the United States, and , combines, and confederates with any other person, such other person being either within or without the United States, to cast away or otherwise destroy any vessel, with intent to injure any person that may have underwritten or may thereafter underwrite any policy of insurance thereon or on goods on board thereof, or with intent to injure any person that has lent or advanced, or may lend or advance, any money on such vessel on bottomry or respondentia; or
Whoever, within the United States, builds, or fits out any vessel to be cast away or destroyed, with like intent—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 803 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to conspire (agree with someone) to sink or destroy a ship in order to cheat its insurers or lenders. It is also a crime to build or equip a ship within the United States for that purpose.