---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 502"
description: "Cargo exempt from forfeiture"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "5"
chapter_name: "OTHER GENERAL PROVISIONS"
section: "502"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 502"
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/s502"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "4c7b260d061f26e88c5271a5ba47b125b07851c9edd61bc4189a68f9417aea90"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "c394f4e00340eb1923354dc3ea88b438166f49faaf3be50f001e068011ae5ca8"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 502 - Cargo exempt from forfeiture

## Text

Cargo on a vessel is exempt from forfeiture under this title if—

(1) the cargo is owned in good faith by a person not the owner, master, or crewmember of the vessel; and

(2) the customs duties on the cargo have been paid or secured for payment as provided by law.

(Pub. L. 109–304, § 4, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1490.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 50246 App.:326.R.S. § 4378.