9. Recording of American-built Foreign Ships.—
Vessels of foreign ownership built in the United States may be measured and recorded in the office of the Collector for the district in which they are built and a certificate of record issued. The advantage of having this is in having the official record already made in case the vessel subsequently becomes the property of citizens and entitled to registry. Changes of name and master of recorded vessels must be endorsed on the certificate of record and reported to the Collector at the port of record (Rev. St. §§ 4180-4184).