Homeland Security Department, Coast Guard
The Coast Guard is changing its regulations for certifying a State's titling system for undocumented vessels to increase States' participation in the Vessel Identification System (VIS). This final rule allows States that have adopted the recommendations of the model Uniform Certificate of Title Act for Vessels to certify their titling provisions with the Coast Guard. Once certified and participating in the VIS, a State is able to confer preferred mortgage status on financial instruments that apply to undocumented vessels, which benefits the owners of those vessels. While many of the changes to the certification guidelines relate to the technical requirements of recording and maintaining titling documentation, the most significant change implements a system of "branding" (permanently marking) titles for vessels that have sustained structural damage. This will help prevent a process known as "title washing," where severe vessel damage is concealed by transferring the title to a different State.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 187 [Docket No. USCG-2018-0160] RIN 1625-AC28 AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing its regulations for certifying a State's titling system for undocumented vessels to increase States' participation in the Vessel Identification System (VIS). This final rule allows States that have adopted the recommendations of the model Uniform Certificate of Title Act for Vessels to certify their titling provisions with the Coast Guard. Once certified and participating in the VIS, a State is able to confer preferred mortgage status on financial instruments that apply to undocumented vessels, which benefits the owners of those vessels. While many of the changes to the certification guidelines relate to the technical requirements of recording and maintaining titling documentation, the most significant change implements a system of “branding” (permanently marking) titles for vessels that have sustained structural damage. This will help prevent a process known as “title washing,” where severe vessel damage is concealed by transferring the title to a different State. DATES: This final rule is effective July 6, 2022. ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov , type USCG-2018-0160 in the search box and click “Search.” Next, in the Document Type column, select “Supporting &…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 87 FR 34175
