---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 30908"
description: "Exemption from arrest or seizure"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "309"
chapter_name: "SUITS IN ADMIRALTY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES"
section: "30908"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 30908"
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_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s30908"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "d148f0863a69477d877b67d0ae9662d3f776635d80dd239a5fc3764be84a14e0"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "6285bb7db2514e20ca2b6fb5a5ef264cb65686b8cb2f436f782a177cfeec8cc5"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 30908 - Exemption from arrest or seizure

## Text

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.

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

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3090846 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.