---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1699"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1699"
heading: "Certification of delivery from vessel"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1699"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 83 — Postal Service"
---

# §1699. Certification of delivery from vessel


No vessel arriving within a port or collection district of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) 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](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) 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](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) having charge or control thereof has signed and sworn to the following declaration before the [collector](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-13) or other proper customs [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c):

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](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) 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](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), being the master or other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) 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.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 777; July 3, 1952, ch. 553, 66 Stat. 325; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(15), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(B), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2146.)

## Notes

### 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 Amendment

Amendment 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.