102 STAT. 4736
PUBLIC LAW 100-710—NOV. 23, 1988
"§ 12502. Identincation numbers, signal letters, and markings "(a) For the identification of a vessel of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation— "(1) shall maintain a unique numbering system and assign a number to each vessel of the United States; "(2) may maintain a system of signal letters for a documented vessel; "(3) shall record a name selected by the owner of a documented vessel approved by the Secretary as the vessel's name of record; and "(4) may establish other identification markings. "(b) The manufacturer or owner of a vessel shall affix to the vessel and maintain in the manner prescribed by the Secretary the number sissigned and any other markings the Secretary may require. "(c) Once a number is assigned under this section, it may not be used by another vessel. "(d) Once a documented vessel's name is established, the name may not be changed without the approval of the Secretary. "(e) A person may not tamper with or falsify a number or other marking required under this section. "§ 12503. Information available to the system "(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a State or a State's delegee approved by the Secretary of Transportation may make information available to the Secretary if, in a manner and form prescribed by the Secretary, the State— "(1) identifies the vessel; "(2) identifies the owner of the vessel; "(3) identifies the State in which it is titled or numbered; "(4) indicates whether the vessel is numbered or titled, or both; "(5) if titled in a State, indicates where evidence of a lien or other security interest may be found against the vessel in that State; "(6) includes information to assist law enforcement; and "(7) includes other information agreed to by the Secretary and the State. "(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary also may accept information under conditions and in a manner and form prescribed by the Secretary. "(c) The Secretary shall— "(1) retain information on a vessel with a preferred mortgage under section 31322(d) of this title that is no longer titled in a State making information available to the Secretary under this chapter until the mortgage is discharged or the vessel is sold; and "(2) accept information under section 31321(h) of this title only if that information cannot be provided to a State. "§ 12504. Information available from the system Law "For law enforcement or other purposes and under conditions enforcement and prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary of Transportation— '^"'"^ "(1) shall make available information in the vessel identification system to a State making information available under section 12503(a) of this title; and
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