Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-110

§80103 Property on Florida Coast to Be Taken to Port of Entry

Title 46 › Subtitle VIII — Miscellaneous › CHAPTER 801 — WRECKS AND SALVAGE › § 80103

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any goods taken from a shipwreck, from the sea, or from a key or shoal along Florida’s coast in U.S. waters must be brought to a U.S. port of entry. If a vessel tries to carry those goods to a foreign port, the vessel can be seized and turned over to the U.S. government, with the value split half to the person who reported it and half to the government.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §80103

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(a)In General.—
Property taken from a wreck, the sea, or a key or shoal, on the coast of Florida and within the jurisdiction of the United States, shall be brought to a port of entry of the United States.
(b)Seizure and Forfeiture.—
A vessel transporting property described in subsection (a) to a foreign port may be seized by, and forfeited to, the United States Government. A forfeiture under this subsection accrues half to the informer and half to the Government.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 8010346 App.:722.R.S. § 4239. 46 App.:723.R.S. § 4240. In subsection (a), the words “of any description whatsoever” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (b), the words “transporting property described in subsection (a) of this section” are substituted for “which shall be engaged or employed in carrying or transporting any property whatsoever, taken from any wreck, from the sea, or from any of the keys or shoals, within the jurisdiction of the United States, on the coast of Florida” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “may be seized by, and forfeited to, the United States Government” are substituted for “shall . . . be forfeited” for consistency in the revised title. The words “together with her tackle, apparel, and furniture” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “accrues half to the informer and half to the Government” are substituted for “one moiety to the informer and the other to the United States” to use more commonly understood language.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 80103

Title 46, Shipping

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110