46 U.S.C. § 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.