Ship's papers
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any instrument in imitation of or purporting to be, an abstract or official copy or certificate of the documentation of any vessel, or a certificate of ownership, pass, or clearance, granted for any vessel, under the authority of the United States, or a permit, debenture, or other official document granted by any officer of the customs by virtue of his office; or
Whoever utters, publishes, or passes, or to utter, publish, or pass, as true, any such false, forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered instrument, abstract, official copy, certificate, pass, clearance, permit, debenture, or other official document herein specified, knowing the same to be false, forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered, with an intent to defraud—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 714 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 109–304, §17(d)(2), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1707.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to fake or alter official papers for ships, such as ownership certificates, clearance papers, or customs documents. It is also a crime to pass off such fake papers as real, knowing they are fake, with intent to cheat.