46 U.S.C. § 12106 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 46. Shipping § 12106. Surrender of title and number

(a) In general.--A documented vessel may not be titled by a State or required to display numbers under chapter 123 of this title, and any certificate of title issued by a State for a documented vessel shall be surrendered as provided by regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(b) Vessels covered by preferred mortgage.--The Secretary may approve the surrender under subsection (a) of a certificate of title for a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage under section 31322(d) of this title only if the mortgagee consents.