46 USC § 30908 - Exemption from arrest or seizure

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s30908"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 30908 - Exemption from arrest or seizure"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "30908"
section_name: "Exemption from arrest or seizure"
chapter_number: 309
chapter_name: "SUITS IN ADMIRALTY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1518.)"
---


# § 30908. Exemption from arrest or seizure

The following are not subject to arrest or seizure by judicial process in the United States:

**(1)** A vessel owned by, possessed by, or operated by or for the United States or a federally-owned corporation.

**(2)** Cargo owned or possessed by the United States or a federally-owned corporation.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 6(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1518.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30908 | 46 App.:741 (less 11th–26th words). | Mar. 9, 1920, ch. 95, § 1 (less 11th–26th words), 41 Stat. 525; Sept. 26, 1950, ch. 1049, § 2(a)(2), 64 Stat. 1038; Pub. L. 96–70, § 3(b)(5), Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 455. |

The words “a federally-owned corporation” are substituted for “any corporation in which the United States or its representatives shall own the entire outstanding capital stock” because of the definition of “federally-owned corporation” in section 30902 of the revised title. The words “after ” are omitted as obsolete. The words “in view of the provision herein made for a libel in personam” are omitted as unnecessary. The words “or its possessions” are omitted because of the definition of “United States” in chapter 1 of the revised title. The words “, That this chapter shall not apply to the Panama Canal Commission” are omitted because the Commission has been dissolved. See .