10. Name.—
A new vessel is registered under the name selected by her owners and must continue to bear that name—which is required to be painted upon her bows, stern, pilot house and lifeboats in letters of specified size,—unless permitted to change it. By Act of Congress approved February 19, 1920, changes of name may be made by the Commissioner of Navigation, United States Department of Commerce, "when in his judgment there shall be sufficient cause for so doing." Before authorizing a change of name, the Commissioner requires "such evidence as to age, condition, where built, and pecuniary liability of the vessel as may be deemed necessary to prevent injury to public or private interests," including the interests of the vessel's creditors. The purpose of these requirements is to prevent imposition upon the public by masquerading old, worn-out vessels under new names, and to prevent the loss of a vessel's identity, in fraud of her creditors, by changing her name.