---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31324"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31324"
heading: "Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31324"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 313 — Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens"
  - "Subchapter II — Commercial Instruments"
---

# §31324. Retention and examination of mortgages of vessels covered by preferred mortgages

- (a) On request, the [owner](/usc/46/30501.md?p=2), 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.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| 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 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.