Violence against maritime navigation

18 U.S. Code § 2280. Violence against maritime navigation

(a)Offenses.—
(1)In general.—A person who unlawfully and intentionally—
(A)
seizes or exercises control over a ship by force or threat thereof or any other form of intimidation;
(B)
performs an act of violence against a person on board a ship if that act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship;
(C)
destroys a ship or causes damage to a ship or to its cargo which is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship;
(D)
places or causes to be placed on a ship, by any means whatsoever, a device or substance which is likely to destroy that ship, or cause damage to that ship or its cargo which endangers or is likely to endanger the safe navigation of that ship;
(E)
destroys or seriously damages maritime navigational facilities or seriously interferes with their operation, if such act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of a ship;
(F)
communicates information, knowing the information to be false and under circumstances in which such information may reasonably be believed, thereby endangering the safe navigation of a ship;
(G)
injures or kills any person in connection with the commission or the attempted commission of any of the offenses set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (F); or
(H)
attempts or conspires to do any act prohibited under subparagraphs (A) through (G),
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and if the death of any person results from conduct prohibited by this paragraph, shall be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
(2)Threat to navigation.—
A person who threatens to do any act prohibited under paragraph (1)(B), (C) or (E), with apparent determination and will to carry the threat into execution, if the threatened act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of the ship in question, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
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