Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Vessels and Seamen › Part H— Identification of Vessels › Chapter 121— DOCUMENTATION OF VESSELS › Subchapter III— MISCELLANEOUS › § 12136
Owners must give up any invalid certificate of documentation, or one with an invalid endorsement, under rules the Secretary issues. The Secretary may set conditions for surrender of vessels over 1,000 gross tons. If a mortgage was filed under section 31321, surrender can be approved only with the mortgagee’s consent. The Secretary cannot refuse surrender because a lien notice was recorded under section 31343(a). Until the Secretary approves surrender, the vessel is still treated as documented for chapter 313 (for filings made before the invalidation and later assignments), for sections 56101 and 56102(a)(2), for chapter 563, and for other U.S. laws the Secretary names, except when a U.S. district court forfeits or orders sale.
Full Legal Text
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 12136
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60