Boarding vessels before arrival
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, not being in the United States service, and not being duly authorized by law for the purpose, goes on board any vessel about to arrive at the place of her destination, before her actual arrival, and before she has been completely moored, shall be or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
The master of such vessel may take any such person into custody, and deliver him up forthwith to any law enforcement officer, to be by him taken before any committing magistrate, to be dealt with according to law.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 805 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(D), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to board a ship that is about to arrive at its destination before it has arrived and been fully tied up, unless the person is in U.S. government service or authorized by law. The ship's captain may hold the person and turn them over to police.