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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§1699 Certification of delivery from vessel

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 83— - POSTAL SERVICE › § 1699

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A ship that arrives at a U.S. port cannot enter or begin unloading until every letter and mail bag on board is taken to the nearest post office. Mail that is waybilled to be unloaded at other U.S. ports the ship will call at may stay on board if the Postal Service says it will not be unreasonably delayed. The captain or person in charge must sign a sworn statement before the customs collector or other customs officer saying the mail was delivered or properly waybilled. If the captain or person in charge unloads cargo or breaks bulk before the mail is delivered or arranged to be carried on, they can be fined under federal law.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1699

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

No vessel arriving within a port or collection district of the United States shall be allowed to make entry or break bulk until all letters on board are delivered to the nearest post office, except where waybilled for discharge at other ports in the United States at which the vessel is scheduled to call and the Postal Service does not determine that unreasonable delay in the mails will occur, and the master or other person having charge or control thereof has signed and sworn to the following declaration before the collector or other proper customs officer: I, A. B., master ___, of the ___, arriving from ___, and now lying in the port of ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have to the best of my knowledge and belief delivered to the post office at ___ every letter and every bag, packet, or parcel of letters on board the said vessel during her last voyage, or in my possession or under my power or control, except where waybilled for discharge at other ports in the United States at which the said vessel is scheduled to call and which the Postal Service has not determined will be unreasonably delayed by remaining on board the said vessel for delivery at such ports. Whoever, being the master or other person having charge or control of such vessel, breaks bulk before he has arranged for such delivery or onward carriage, shall be fined under this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 327 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 204, 35 Stat. 1127). Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $100” in last par. 1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Postmaster General” in two places. 1952—Act July 3, 1952, provided for only the unloading of mail from a vessel as can be expedited by discharge at such port.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an

Effective Date

note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs, surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise in Bureau of Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate were ordered abolished, with such offices to be terminated not later than Dec. 31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1965, eff.
May 25, 1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat. 1317, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Functions of offices eliminated were already vested in Secretary of the Treasury by Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, eff.
July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1699

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73