Title 46, ShippingRelease 119-102
§31324 Retention and Examination of Mortgages of Vessels Covered by Preferred Mortgages
Title 46 › Subtitle III — Maritime Liability › CHAPTER 313 — COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS › § 31324
Summary
Those in charge must let anyone with business that could create a maritime claim or affect a vessel's mortgage inspect the preferred mortgage. For self‑propelled vessels, the borrower must keep a certified copy of the mortgage on board.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §31324
Shipping, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)On request, the owner, master, or individual in charge of a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage shall permit a person to examine the mortgage if the person has business with the vessel that may give rise to a maritime lien or the sale, conveyance, mortgage, or assignment of a mortgage of the vessel.
(b)A mortgagor of a preferred mortgage covering a self-propelled vessel shall use diligence in keeping a certified copy of the mortgage on the vessel.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 3132446:923 section 31324(a) provides for examination of mortgages of a vessel that is covered by a preferred mortgage by persons that have business with the vessel that may give rise to a maritime lien or the sale, conveyance, mortgage, or assignment of the mortgage. This subsection makes no substantive change to law. section 31324(b) requires that a certified copy of the mortgage must be on board a self-propelled vessel. This subsection makes no substantive change to law.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 31324
Title 46, Shipping
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102