US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

46 U.S.C. § 31326

Court sales to enforce preferred mortgage liens and maritime liens and priority of claims

(a)
section 31325(e)(2) of this title When a vessel is sold by order of a district court in a civil action in rem brought to enforce a preferred mortgage lien or a maritime lien, any claim in the vessel existing on the date of sale is terminated, including a possessory common law lien of which a person is deprived under , and the vessel is sold free of all those claims.
(b)
Each of the claims terminated under subsection (a) of this section attaches, in the same amount and in accordance with their priorities to the proceeds of the sale, except that—
(1)
the preferred mortgage lien, including a preferred mortgage lien on a foreign vessel whose mortgage has been guaranteed under chapter 537 of this title, has priority over all claims against the vessel (except for expenses and fees allowed by the court, costs imposed by the court, and preferred maritime liens); and
(2)
for a foreign vessel whose mortgage has not been guaranteed under chapter 537 of this title, the preferred mortgage lien is subordinate to a maritime lien for necessaries provided in the United States.

Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c)102 Stat. 4746Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XIII, § 1360107 Stat. 1816Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(31)120 Stat. 1704(, , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section

Source section (U.S. Code)

31326(a)

46:953(b), 961(c)

31326(b)(1)

46:953(b)

31326(b)(2)

46:951 (2d par. proviso)

in remSection 31326(a) provides for a court-ordered sale to enforce a preferred mortgage lien or a maritime lien and the priority of claims. When a mortgaged vessel is sold by court order in a civil action , any prior claim in the vessel is terminated—including any possessory common law lien. This subsection makes a substantive change to law by making the process the same for maritime liens as was provided for preferred mortgage liens. This eliminates the requirement for making a new mortgagee for a court sale to enforce a maritime lien. This section also broadens the jurisdiction to courts in the territories, as defined in section 31301.

28 U.S.C. 1921Section 31326(b)(1) provides that each of these terminated claims attaches, in the same amount and priority, to the proceeds of sale—except that the preferred mortgage lien always has priority over these other claims. However, the preferred mortgage lien is still subordinated to expenses and fees allowed by the court, costs imposed by the court, and any preferred maritime liens. This may include statutory fees such as the fee of the United States Marshal under . Except for broadening its coverage under subsection (a), this makes no substantive change to law.

Section 31326(b)(2) provides in the case of a foreign vessel, the preferred mortgage lien is also subordinated to a maritime lien for necessaries performed or supplied for the vessel in the United States. “Provided” has been substituted for “provided or supplied” for consistency in usage. Except for broadening its coverage under subsection (a), this paragraph makes no substantive change to law.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(31)(A)2006—Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “chapter 537 of this title,” for “title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)”.

Pub. L. 109–304, § 15(31)(B)Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “chapter 537 of this title” for “title XI of that Act”.

Pub. L. 103–160, § 1260(1)1993—Subsec. (b)(1). , inserted “, including a preferred mortgage lien on a foreign vessel whose mortgage has been guaranteed under title XI of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)” after “preferred mortgage lien”.

Pub. L. 103–160, § 1360(2)Subsec. (b)(2). , inserted “whose mortgage has not been guaranteed under title XI of that Act” after “foreign vessel”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710section 31301 of this titleSection effective , with certain exceptions and qualifications, see , set out as a note under .