1176                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                            [Ch. 4

IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO IT. ACQUISITION OF TITLE
DIVESTS ANY OTHER PERSON OF ANY INTEREST IN THE
VESSEL.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This subsection presently appears
as Article 14B, section 4P(a) of the Code.
The only changes made are in style.

(C) NOTICE; APPLICATION FOR TITLE; ISSUANCE OF
TITLE; COSTS; REPORT OF SUBSEQUENT DESTRUCTION OR
DISPOSITION OF VESSEL; ACQUISITION OF TITLE BY
DEPARTMENT. -

(1)   IF A VESSEL HAS A BOAT NUMBER OR OTHER
MEANS OF IDENTIFYING ITS OWNER, THE PERSON DESIRING TO
ACQUIRE TITLE, IF POSSIBLE, SHALL SECURE THE OWNER'S
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS, AND THE LIENHOLDER, IF ANY,
APPEARING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S RECORDS. HE SHALL
NOTIFY THIS OWNER AND THE LIEN HOLDER BY REGISTERED
LETTER TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS THAT IF OWNERSHIP IS
NOT CLAIMED AND THE VESSEL REMOVED WITHIN 30 DAYS, HE
WILL APPLY FOR TITLE TO THE VESSEL IN HIS NAME. IF
ANY VESSEL'S OWNER OR LIEN HOLDER CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED
OR ADDRESS ASCERTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S RECORDS,
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SEND THE LETTER.

(2)    THE PERSON DESIRING TO ACQUIRE TITLE
ALSO SHALL PLACE A NOTICE IN A PAPER OF GENERAL
CIRCULATION PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE VESSEL
IS LOCATED, DESCRIBING THE VESSEL, ITS LOCATION, AND
ANY IDENTIFYING NUMBER. THE PERSON SHALL STATE IN THE
NOTICE THAT IF THE VESSEL IS NOT CLAIMED AND REMOVED
WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION DATE OF THE
PAPER, HE WILL APPLY FOR TITLE TO THE VESSEL IN HIS
NAME.

(3)   AT THE END OF THE 30-DAY PERIOD THE
PERSON SHALL APPLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR TITLE TO THE
VESSEL IN HIS NAME ON FORMS THE DEPARTMENT APPROVES
ACCOMPANIED BY THE FOLLOWING AFFIDAVITS:

(I)   A STATEMENT THE VESSEL APPARENTLY HAS
BEEN ABANDONED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS;

(II)  PROOF THE REGISTERED LETTER WAS MAILED
AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE APPLICATION OR A DETAILED
EXPLANATION OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL STEPS TAKEN TO
IDENTIFY THE OWNER OR LIEN HOLDER AND SECURE HIS
ADDRESS; AND

(III)    PROOF A NOTICE WAS PRINTED IN A