§1699 Certification of Delivery From Vessel

Summary

Ships that arrive at a U.S. port cannot officially enter or start unloading cargo until all letters and mail on board are taken to the nearest post office. The only exception is if the mail is waybilled to be unloaded at other U.S. ports where the ship will call and the Postal Service says keeping the mail on board will not cause an unreasonable delay. The ship’s master or person in charge must sign and swear a short statement before a customs officer that names the ship, where it came from and the port, and says, to the best of their knowledge, they delivered all mail to the named post office or properly waybilled it. If the master or person in charge begins unloading before the mail has been arranged for delivery or onward carriage, they will be fined under federal law.