§60501 — Title 46 Shipping | U.S. Code

Summary

Only U.S. ships or certain foreign ships may bring goods into the United States unless a treaty says otherwise. A foreign ship can be used only if it is owned entirely by people from the country where the goods are grown, made, or usually first shipped. If the foreign country does not keep a similar rule against U.S. ships, then this rule does not apply to its ships. A U.S.-owned ship that enters a U.S. port and is registered as a U.S. vessel before leaving is also allowed. Goods, the ship, its gear, and other cargo can be seized and forfeited to the U.S. Government if the rule is broken.

Title 46, §60501

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as otherwise provided by treaty, goods may be imported into the United States from a foreign port or place only in—

(1)a vessel of the United States; or

(2)a foreign vessel owned only by citizens or subjects of the country—

(A)in which the goods are grown, produced, or manufactured; or

(B)from which the goods can only be, or most usually are, first shipped for transportation.

(b)Subsection (a) does not apply to a vessel of a foreign country that does not maintain a similar restriction against United States documented vessels.

(c)Subsection (a) does not apply to a vessel that—

(1)is owned only by citizens of the United States; and

(2)after entering a port of the United States, becomes documented as a vessel of the United States before leaving that port.

(d)If goods are imported in violation of this section, the goods and the vessel in which they are imported, along with its equipment and other cargo, may be seized by and forfeited to the United States Government.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 60501(a)19:130 (1st sentence).Oct. 3, 1913, ch. 16, § IV(J)(2), (3), 38 Stat. 196; Mar. 15, 1915, ch. 171, § 1, 38 Stat. 1193; Pub. L. 103–182, title VI, § 689(a)(2), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2222. 60501(b)19:131 (words before “nor”). 60501(c)19:131 (words beginning with “nor”). 60501(d)19:130 (last sentence related to 19:130). In this section, the word “goods” is substituted for “goods, wares, or merchandise” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(2), before subparagraph (A), the words “owned only by” are substituted for “truly and wholly belong to” for consistency in the revised title. In subsection (b), the words “or goods, wares, or merchandise imported in vessels” are omitted as unnecessary because of the wording of subsection (a) of the revised section. The word “restriction” is substituted for “regulation” as being more appropriate. Subsection (d) is substituted for “All goods, wares, or merchandise imported contrary to this section or section 128 of this title, and the vessel wherein the same shall be imported, together with her cargo, tackle, apparel, and furniture, shall be forfeited to the United States; and such goods, wares, or merchandise, ship, or vessel, and cargo shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted, and condemned in like manner, and under the same

Regulations

, restrictions, and provisions as have been heretofore established for the recovery, collection, distribution, and remission of forfeitures to the United States by the several revenue laws” to eliminate unnecessary words.

§60501 Vessels allowed to import

Summary

Title 46, §60501

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Regulations

Citations & Metadata