Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title46-chapter313-subchapter2&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU0Ni1zZWN0aW9uMzEzMjI%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2019-10-17 00:05:33
Document Index: 150352761

Matched Legal Cases: ['§102', '§303', '§305', '§420', '§913', '§102', '§303', '§1113', '§202', '§401', '§3027', '§2202', '§15', '§3546', '§15', '§2202', '§202', '§202', '§303', '§2202', '§203', '§31323', '§102', '§31324', '§102', '§303', '§1124', '§401', '§205', '§15', '§3529', '§15', '§15', '§205', '§1124', '§205', '§1124', '§102', '§1360', '§15', '§15', '§1260', '§31327', '§102', '§31328', '§1113', '§102', '§31329', '§102', '§1118', '§15', '§913', '§15', '§15', '§15']

[USC02] 46 USC Subtitle III, CHAPTER 313, SUBCHAPTER II: COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS
<< Previous TITLE 46 / Subtitle III / CHAPTER 313 / SUBCHAPTER II Next >>
46 USC Subtitle III, CHAPTER 313, SUBCHAPTER II: COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS
From Title 46—SHIPPINGSubtitle III—Maritime LiabilityCHAPTER 313—COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS
(a)(1) A bill of sale, conveyance, mortgage, assignment, or related instrument, whenever made, that includes any part of a documented vessel or a vessel for which an application for documentation is filed, must be filed with the Secretary to be valid, to the extent the vessel is involved, against any person except—
(b) To be filed, a bill of sale, conveyance, mortgage, assignment, or related instrument must—
(c) If a bill of sale, conveyance, mortgage, assignment, or related document is filed that involves a vessel for which an application for documentation is filed, and the Secretary decides that the vessel cannot be documented by an applicant—
(2) 90 days after sending the notice as provided under clause (1) of this subsection, the Secretary—
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4741; Pub. L. 101–225, title III, §303(2), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 104–324, title III, §305, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3918; Pub. L. 107–295, title IV, §420, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2124; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, §913(a)(1), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3017.)
2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–281 struck out "of Transportation" after "Secretary" in introductory provisions.
2002—Subsec. (a)(4) Pub. L. 107–295 struck out subpar. (A) designation before "A bill of sale" and subpar. (B) which read as follows: "A filing made electronically under subparagraph (A) shall not be effective after the 10-day period beginning on the date of the filing unless the original instrument is provided to the Secretary within that 10-day period."
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–324 added par. (4).
1989—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–225 substituted "for which an application for documentation is filed" for "that has not yet been documented" in introductory provisions and "interested party to" for "party whose name and address is stated on" in par. (1).
(a) A preferred mortgage is a mortgage, whenever made, that—
(4) with respect to a vessel with a fishery endorsement that is 100 feet or greater in registered length, has as the mortgagee—
(2) If a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage that includes more than one vessel or property that is not a vessel is to be sold on the order of a district court in a civil action in rem, and the mortgage does not provide for separate discharge as provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection—
(d)(1) A mortgage, security agreement, or instrument granting a security interest perfected under State law covering the whole of a vessel titled in a State is deemed to be a preferred mortgage if—
(2) This subsection applies to mortgages, security agreements, or instruments covering vessels titled in a State after—
(e) If a vessel is already covered by a preferred mortgage when an application for titling or documentation is filed—
(f)(1) A mortgage trustee may hold in trust, for an individual or entity, an instrument or evidence of indebtedness, secured by a mortgage of the vessel to the mortgage trustee, provided that the mortgage trustee—
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4743; Pub. L. 101–225, title III, §303(3), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1113(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3970; Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title II, §202(b), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–618; Pub. L. 105–383, title IV, §401(c)(1)–(4), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3425; Pub. L. 106–31, title III, §3027(a)(1), May 21, 1999, 113 Stat. 101; Pub. L. 107–20, title II, §2202(b), (c), July 24, 2001, 115 Stat. 168, 169; Pub. L. 109–304, §§15(29), 16(c)(7), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1704, 1706; Pub. L. 115–232, div. C, title XXXV, §3546(l), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2327.)
2018—Subsec. (a)(4)(B). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted "State" for "state".
2006—Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(29)(A), substituted "section 12113(c)" for "section 12102(c)".
2001—Subsec. (a)(4)(B) to (F). Pub. L. 107–20, §2202(b), added subpars. (B) to (F) and struck out former subpars. (B) and (C) which read as follows:
1999—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 106–31 made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 105–277, §202(b). See 1998 Amendment note below.
1998—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–277, §202(b), as amended by Pub. L. 106–31, added par. (4).
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–324 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) consisted of 2 pars. with substantially similar provisions defining a preferred mortgage except that it included a mortgage with a State, the United States Government, a federally insured depository institution, or specified individual as mortgagee.
1989—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–225, §303(3)(A), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "Paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection does not apply to a vessel operated only as a fishing vessel, fish processing vessel, or a fish tender vessel (as defined in section 2101 of this title) or to a vessel operated only for pleasure."
Pub. L. 107–20, title II, §2202(d), July 24, 2001, 115 Stat. 170, provided that: "Section 31322 of title 46, United States Code as amended in this section, and as amended by section 202(b) of the American Fisheries Act (Public Law 105–277, division C, title II) shall not take effect until April 1, 2003, nor shall the Secretary of Transportation, in determining whether a vessel owner complies with the requirements of section 12102(c) of title 46, United States Code [now 46 U.S.C. 12113(b)(2) to (d)], consider the citizenship status of a lender, in its capacity as a lender with respect to that vessel owner, until after April 1, 2003."
Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title II, §203(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–619, provided that: "The amendments made by section 202 [amending this section and former section 12102 of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 2001."
§31323. Disclosing and incurring obligations before executing preferred mortgages
(a) On request of the mortgagee and before executing a preferred mortgage, the mortgagor shall disclose in writing to the mortgagee the existence of any obligation known to the mortgagor on the vessel to be mortgaged.
(1) wages of a stevedore when employed directly by a person listed in section 31341 of this title;
(2) wages for the crew of the vessel;
(3) general average; or
(4) salvage, including contract salvage.
(c) On conviction of a mortgagor under section 31330(a)(1)(A) or (B) of this title for violating this section, the mortgage indebtedness, at the option of the mortgagee, is payable immediately.
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4744.)
31323(a) 46:924(1)
31323(b) 46:924(2)
31323(c) 46:941(b) (last sentence)
§31324. Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages
(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.
31324 46:923
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.
(b) On default of any term of the preferred mortgage, the mortgagee may—
(2) enforce a claim for the outstanding indebtedness secured by the mortgaged vessel in—
(3) enforce the preferred mortgage lien or a claim for the outstanding indebtedness secured by the mortgaged vessel, or both, by exercising any other remedy (including an extrajudicial remedy) against a documented vessel, a vessel for which an application for documentation is filed under chapter 121 of this title, a vessel titled in a State, a foreign vessel, or a mortgagor, maker, comaker, or guarantor for the amount of the outstanding indebtedness or any deficiency in full payment of that indebtedness, if—
(d)(1) Actual notice of a civil action brought under subsection (b)(1) of this section, or to enforce a maritime lien, must be given in the manner directed by the court to—
(e) In a civil action brought under subsection (b)(1) of this section—
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4745; Pub. L. 101–225, title III, §303(4), Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1124(a), (b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3980; Pub. L. 105–383, title IV, §401(c)(5)–(7), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3425; Pub. L. 107–295, title II, §205(b), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2096; Pub. L. 109–304, §15(30), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1704; Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXV, §3529(b)(1)(B), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 603.)
2008—Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–181 amended Pub. L. 109–304, §15(30). See 2006 Amendment note below.
2006—Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(30), as amended by Pub. L. 110–181, substituted "section 56101 or 56102 of this title" for "section 9 or 37 of the Shipping Act, 1916 (46 App. U.S.C. 808, 835)".
2002—Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 107–295, §205(b)(1), substituted "an unexpired notice of a claim" for "a notice of a claim".
1998—Subsecs. (b)(1), (3), (c). Pub. L. 105–383 inserted "a vessel titled in a State," after "chapter 121 of this title,".
1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–324, §1124(a)(1), substituted "mortgagee may" for "mortgage may" in introductory provisions.
1989—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 101–225 amended subsecs. (b) and (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsecs. (b) and (c) read as follows:
"(b) On default of any term of the preferred mortgage, the mortgagee may enforce the preferred mortgage lien in—
Pub. L. 107–295, title II, §205(e), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2096, provided that: "This section [see Tables for classification] shall take effect January 1, 2003."
Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1124(c), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3981, provided that: "The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section] may not be construed to imply that remedies other than judicial remedies were not available before the date of enactment of this section [Oct. 19, 1996] to enforce claims for outstanding indebtedness secured by mortgaged vessels."
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4746; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XIII, §1360, Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1816; Pub. L. 109–304, §15(31), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1704.)
Section 31326(a) provides for a court-ordered sale to enforce a preferred mortgage lien or a maritime lien and the priority of claims. When a mortgaged vessel is sold by court order in a civil action in rem, any prior claim in the vessel is terminated—including any possessory common law lien. This subsection makes a substantive change to law by making the process the same for maritime liens as was provided for preferred mortgage liens. This eliminates the requirement for making a new mortgagee for a court sale to enforce a maritime lien. This section also broadens the jurisdiction to courts in the territories, as defined in section 31301.
Section 31326(b)(1) provides that each of these terminated claims attaches, in the same amount and priority, to the proceeds of sale—except that the preferred mortgage lien always has priority over these other claims. However, the preferred mortgage lien is still subordinated to expenses and fees allowed by the court, costs imposed by the court, and any preferred maritime liens. This may include statutory fees such as the fee of the United States Marshal under 28 U.S.C. 1921. Except for broadening its coverage under subsection (a), this makes no substantive change to law.
2006—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(31)(A), substituted "chapter 537 of this title," for "title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)".
1993—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 103–160, §1260(1), inserted ", including a preferred mortgage lien on a foreign vessel whose mortgage has been guaranteed under title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)" after "preferred mortgage lien".
§31327. Forfeiture of mortgagee interest
The interest of a mortgagee in a documented vessel or a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage under section 31322(d) of this title may be terminated by a forfeiture of the vessel for a violation of a law of the United States only if the mortgagee authorized, consented, or conspired to do the act, failure, or omission that is the basis of the violation.
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4746.)
31327 46:961(b)
Section 31327 provides for forfeiture of the mortgagee's interest if the mortgagee authorized, consented, or conspired to do the act, failure, or omission that is the basis of the violation that caused forfeiture of the vessel. This section makes no substantive change to law.
[§31328. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1113(b)(1), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3970]
Section, Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4746, related to limitations on parties serving as trustees of mortgaged vessel interests.
§31329. Court sales of documented vessels
(a) A documented vessel may be sold by order of a district court only to—
(1) a person eligible to own a documented vessel under section 12103 of this title; or
(2) a mortgagee of that vessel.
(b) When a vessel is sold to a mortgagee not eligible to own a documented vessel—
(1) the vessel must be held by the mortgagee for resale;
(2) the vessel held by the mortgagee is subject to chapter 563 of this title; and
(3) the sale of the vessel to the mortgagee is not a sale to a person not a citizen of the United States under section 12132 of this title.
(c) Unless waived by the Secretary of Transportation, a person purchasing a vessel by court order under subsection (a)(1) of this section or from a mortgagee under subsection (a)(2) of this section must document the vessel under chapter 121 of this title.
(d) The vessel may be operated by the mortgagee not eligible to own a documented vessel only with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation.
(e) A sale of a vessel contrary to this section is void.
(f) This section does not apply to a documented vessel that has been operated only for pleasure.
(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, §102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4747; Pub. L. 104–324, title XI, §1118, Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3973; Pub. L. 109–304, §15(32), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1704; Pub. L. 111–281, title IX, §913(c), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3017.)
31329 46:961(f)
Section 31329 sets out certain restrictions on the court sale of a documented vessel.
Section 31329(a) restricts the sale only to a person eligible to own a documented vessel under section 12102 of title 46 or to the mortgagee, which may be a trustee acting as a holder of a preferred mortgage on a documented vessel for the benefit of a person not eligible to be the holder of a preferred mortgage on that vessel.
Section 31329(b) sets out conditions on the sale to a trustee acting as a holder of a preferred mortgage on a documented vessel for the benefit of a person not eligible to be the holder of a preferred mortgage on that vessel. First, the vessel must be held by the trustee for resale. Second, while being held for resale, the vessel is subject to requisition or purchase during a national emergency under section 902 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1242). And third, the sale of the vessel to the trustee is not a sale foreign within the terms of the First Proviso of section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883).
Section 31329(c) requires a person that is eligible to document the vessel that purchases a vessel from the court to document the vessel. This subsection also requires the person purchasing the vessel from the trustee to document it, thereby restricting to whom the trustee can sell the vessel. Many documented vessels have no national defense utility, such as recreational vessels and fishing vessels. Therefore, both of these restrictions can be waived by the Secretary. As previously discussed, these waivers can be on a case-by-case basis or with a blanket waiver.
Section 31329(d) prohibits a trustee from operating the vessel without the approval of the Secretary.
Section 31329(e) voids any sale that is done contrary to this section.
Under section 31329(d) a vessel may be operated by the trustee only with the approval of the Secretary. Under current law a vessel may be documented by a trust if all of the members of the trust are citizens of the United States. If the trust buying the vessel at the court sale includes foreign investors, the vessel cannot be documented. The Committee intends in this section that the vessel will only be "operated" in a maintenance manner, but not in a commercial service.
2010—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–281 substituted "Secretary of Transportation" for "Secretary".
2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(32)(A), substituted "section 12103" for "section 12102".
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(32)(B)(i), substituted "chapter 563 of this title" for "section 902 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1242)".
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 109–304, §15(32)(B)(ii), substituted "sale to a person not a citizen of the United States under section 12132 of this title" for "sale foreign within the terms of the first proviso of section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 App. U.S.C. 883)".
1996—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–324 added subsec. (f).