---
type: "LegalText"
title: "39 U.S.C. § 5605"
description: "Contracts for transportation of mail by vessel"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 39
title_name: "POSTAL SERVICE"
chapter_number: "56"
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BY VESSEL"
section: "5605"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 5605"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc39@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t39/s5605"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-39/usc39.xml"
source_hash: "7a4a369c62c8624e3c337798f4955bd6374abacaac882e3c09e85e52720b49ad"
raw_snapshot_hash: "ccea35969be78d053165f1170bf2aa826a68e5b4dea1fe3356d8a09e86e19a65"
text_hash: "bc95344923eac954f65d9f9ec5d48a0019cd2011c079b52a31a9fe43d0d5f78b"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 39 U.S.C. § 5605 - Contracts for transportation of mail by vessel

## Text

The Postal Service may contract for the transportation of mail by vessel without advertising for bids.

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 109–435, title X, § 1002(b)(3), Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 3255.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments2006—Pub. L. 109–438 struck out “for periods of not in excess of 4 years” before period at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.