Firing or tampering with vessels
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever sets fire to any vessel of foreign registry, or any vessel of American registry entitled to engage in commerce with foreign nations, or to any vessel of the United States, or to the cargo of the same, or tampers with the motive power of instrumentalities of navigation of such vessel, or places bombs or explosives in or upon such vessel, or does any other act to or upon such vessel while within the jurisdiction of the United States, or, if such vessel is of American registry, while she is on the high sea, with intent to injure or endanger the safety of the vessel or of her cargo, or of persons on board, whether the injury or danger is so intended to take place within the jurisdiction of the United States, or after the vessel shall have departed therefrom and whoever to do so shall be or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 804 (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 set fire to certain ships or their cargo, tamper with their engines or navigation equipment, plant bombs or explosives on them, or do anything else to them meant to damage or endanger the ship, cargo, or people aboard. It covers foreign and U.S. ships in U.S. jurisdiction, and U.S. ships on the high seas.