46 USC § 31324 - Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s31324"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 31324 - Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "31324"
section_name: "Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages"
chapter_number: 313
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MARITIME LIENS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4744.)"
---


# § 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4744.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 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.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , with certain exceptions and qualifications, see , set out as a note under .