(a)A documented vessel may be sold by order of a district court only to—
(1)a person eligible to own a documented vessel under section
12103 of this title; or
(2)a mortgagee of that vessel.
(b)When a vessel is sold to a mortgagee not eligible to own a documented vessel—
(1)the vessel must be held by the mortgagee for resale;
(2)the vessel held by the mortgagee is subject to chapter
563 of this title; and
(3)the sale of the vessel to the mortgagee is not a sale to a person not a citizen of the United States under section
12132 of this title.
(c)Unless waived by the Secretary of Transportation, a person purchasing a vessel by court order under subsection (a)(1) of this section or from a mortgagee under subsection (a)(2) of this section must document the vessel under chapter
121 of this title.
(d)The vessel may be operated by the mortgagee not eligible to own a documented vessel only with the approval of the Secretary.
(e)A sale of a vessel contrary to this section is void.
(f)This section does not apply to a documented vessel that has been operated only for pleasure.