18 USC § 2276 - Breaking and entering vessel

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s2276"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 2276 - Breaking and entering vessel"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "2276"
section_name: "Breaking and entering vessel"
chapter_number: 111
chapter_name: "SHIPPING"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 804; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 2276. Breaking and entering vessel

Whoever, upon the high seas or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, and out of the jurisdiction of any particular State, breaks or enters any vessel with intent to commit any felony, or maliciously cuts, spoils, or destroys any cordage, cable, buoys, buoy rope, head fast, or other fast, fixed to the anchor or moorings belonging to any vessel, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 804; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 490 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.