---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 30908"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "30908"
heading: "Exemption from arrest or seizure"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/30908"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 309 — Suits in Admiralty Against the United States"
---

# §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.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | 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 March 9, 1920” 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 “Provided, That this chapter shall not apply to the Panama Canal Commission” are omitted because the Commission has been dissolved. See 22 U.S.C. 3714a.