(a) A secured party indicated in the files of the Harbor Master as having a security interest in a vessel shall deliver a termination statement to the Harbor Master and, on the debtor’s request, to the debtor, by the earlier of:

(1) Twenty days after the secured party receives a signed demand from an owner for a termination statement and there is no obligation secured by the vessel subject to the security interest and no commitment to make an advance, incur an obligation, or otherwise give value secured by the vessel; or

(2) If the vessel is consumer goods, 30 days after there is no obligation secured by the vessel and no commitment to make an advance, incur an obligation, or otherwise give value secured by the vessel.

(b) If a written certificate of title has been created and delivered to a secured party and a termination statement is required under subsection (a) of this section, the secured party, not later than the date required by subsection (a) of this section, shall deliver the certificate of title to the debtor or to the Harbor Master with the statement. If the certificate of title is lost, stolen, mutilated, destroyed, or is otherwise unavailable or illegible, the secured party shall deliver with the statement, not later than the date required by subsection (a) of this section, an application for a replacement certificate of title meeting the requirements of § 50-1541.21.

(c) On delivery to the Harbor Master of a termination statement authorized by the secured party, the security interest to which the statement relates shall cease to be perfected. If the security interest to which the statement relates was indicated on the certificate of title, the Harbor Master shall create a new certificate of title and deliver the new certificate of title or a record evidencing an electronic certificate of title. The Harbor Master shall maintain in its files the date and time of delivery to the Harbor Master of the statement.

(d) A secured party that fails to comply with this section is liable for any loss that the secured party had reason to know might result from its failure to comply and that could not reasonably have been prevented and for the cost of an application for a certificate of title under § 50-1541.06 or § 50-1541.21.

(Mar. 11, 2015, D.C. Law 20-215, § 16, 61 DCR 13083.)

Applicability of D.C. Law 20-215: Section 32 of D.C. Law 20-215 provided that the act shall apply as of January 1, 2016.