# 19 CFR § 4.1: Boarding of vessels

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.1

## Section

- **Citation:** 19 CFR § 4.1
- **Heading:** Boarding of vessels
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 19—Customs Duties > CHAPTER I—U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY › DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY > PART 4—VESSELS IN FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TRADES > Arrival and Entry of Vessels

## Text

(a) Every vessel arriving at a CBP port will be subject to such supervision while in port as the port director considers necessary. The port director may detail CBP officers to remain on board a vessel to secure enforcement of the requirements set forth in this part. CBP may determine to board as many vessels as considered necessary to ensure compliance with the laws it enforces.
1-27 [Reserved]
(b)(1) No person, with or without the consent of the master, except a pilot in connection with the navigation of the vessel, personnel from another vessel in connection with the navigation of an unmanned barge, an officer of CBP or the Coast Guard, an immigration or health officer, an inspector of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or an agent of the vessel or consular officer exclusively for purposes relating to customs formalities, shall go on board any vessel arriving from outside the customs territory of the United States without permission of the port director or the CBP officer in charge until the vessel has been taken in charge by a CBP officer.
(2) A person may leave the vessel for the purpose of reporting its arrival as required by law (see § 4.2), but no other person, except those designated in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, shall leave any vessel arriving from outside the customs territory of the United States, with or without the consent of the master, without the permission of the port director or the CBP officer in charge until the vessel has been properly inspected by CBP and brought into the dock or anchorage at which cargo is to be unladen and until all passengers have been landed from the vessel (19 U.S.C. 1433).
(3) Every person permitted to go on board or to leave without the consent of a CBP officer under the provisions of this paragraph shall be subject to CBP and quarantine regulations.
(4) The master of any vessel shall not authorize the boarding or leaving of his vessel by any person in violation of this paragraph.
(c) Persons seeking to board an incoming vessel after it has been inspected by the quarantine authorities and taken in charge by a CBP officer must comply with any applicable Coast Guard regulations regarding the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)/personal identification requirements as prescribed in 33 CFR 101.105 and 101.514-515.
(d) No person in charge of a tugboat, rowboat, or other vessel shall bring such conveyance alongside an incoming vessel heretofore described and put on board thereof any person, except as authorized by law or regulations.
[28 FR 14596, Dec. 31, 1963, as amended by T.D. 78-141, 43 FR 22174, May 24, 1978; T.D. 82-224, 47 FR 35475, Aug. 16, 1982; T.D. 92-74, 57 FR 35751, Aug. 11, 1992; T.D. 95-77, 60 FR 50010, Sept. 27, 1995; T.D. 00-4, 65 FR 2872, Jan. 19, 2000; CBP Dec. 14-11, 79 FR 70464, Nov. 26, 2014]

## Nearby sections

- [19 CFR § 4.0 § 4.0 General definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.0.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.1 § 4.1 Boarding of vessels.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.1.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.2 § 4.2 Reports of arrival of vessels.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.2.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.3 § 4.3 Vessels required to enter; place of entry.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.3.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.3a § 4.3a Penalties for violation of vessel reporting and entry requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.3a.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.4 § 4.4 Panama Canal; report of arrival required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.4.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.5 § 4.5 Government vessels.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.5.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.6 § 4.6 Departure or unlading before report or entry.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.6.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.7 § 4.7 Inward foreign manifest; production on demand; contents and form; advance filing of cargo declaration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.7.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.7a § 4.7a Inward manifest; information required; alternative forms.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.7a.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.7b § 4.7b Electronic passenger and crew arrival manifests.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.7b.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.7c § 4.7c Vessel stow plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.7c.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.7d § 4.7d Container status messages.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.7d.md)
- [19 CFR § 4.8 § 4.8 Preliminary entry.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.8.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-19-4.1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.