§5524. Title to work; materials and components

A. Whenever a contract provides that the purchaser shall be the owner of the ship to be constructed pursuant to the contract and title to the work shall vest in the purchaser as and when performed, the work shall be deemed to have been delivered to, and title to the work shall be vested in, the purchaser as and when performed, and title to the ship shall be vested in the purchaser upon completion thereof.

B. If the contract provides that the purchaser shall be the owner of the ship to be constructed pursuant to the contract and title to the work shall vest in the purchaser as and when performed, and provides that title to the materials shall vest in the purchaser as and when delivered to the shipyard, the materials shall be deemed to have been delivered to the purchaser and title thereto shall vest in the purchaser as and when delivered to the shipyard.

C. If the contract provides that the purchaser shall be the owner of the ship to be constructed pursuant to the contract and title to the work shall vest in the purchaser as and when performed, and provides that title to the components shall vest in the purchaser as and when fabricated, the components shall be deemed to have been delivered to the purchaser and title thereto shall vest in the purchaser as and when fabricated.

D. No other person shall acquire any rights in the work, materials, components, or completed ship, title to which is vested in the purchaser, by purchase from the builder and no such work, materials, components, or ship shall be liable to seizure and attachment in behalf of the creditors of the builder, but nothing contained in this Chapter shall affect any rights or privileges granted by law to sellers, laborers, and suppliers of materials in the construction of the ship or to the builder.

E. If a contract does not provide that the purchaser shall be the owner of the ship to be constructed pursuant to the contract or if there is no contract for the construction of the ship, the purchaser shall not acquire any title to the work or any materials or components or the completed ship prior to the completion of the ship and the delivery thereof to the purchaser, notwithstanding any agreement or arrangement to the contrary.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 368, §1.