46 U.S.C. § 12501: Establishment of a vessel identification system

the ownership of documented vessels; the ownership of vessels numbered under chapter 123 of this title; and the ownership of vessels titled under the law of a State. identifying a vessel; the owner’s social security number or, if that number is not available, other means of identification acceptable to the Secretary; or the owner’s taxpayer identification number; or if the owner does not have a taxpayer identification number, the social security number of an individual who is a corporate officer, general partner, or individual trustee of the owner and who signed the application for documentation or numbering for the vessel; identifying the State in which it is titled or numbered; indicating whether the vessel is numbered or titled, or both; if titled in a State, indicating where evidence of a lien or other security interest may be found against the vessel in that State; and information assisting law enforcement officials. The Secretary may maintain information under this chapter in connection with any other information system maintained by the Secretary. collected under section 9701 of title 31 , United States Code, for fees paid for services and things of value provided under chapter 313 of title 46, United States Code (as enacted by section 101 of this Act), and for documenting vessels under chapter 121 of title 46; and transferred to or collected by the Secretary under chapter 125 of title 46, United States Code (as enacted by section 101 of this Act).”