33 CFR Part 174 – STATE NUMBERING AND CASUALTY REPORTING SYSTEMS

This part establishes a standard numbering system for vessels and a uniform vessel casualty reporting system for vessels by prescribing requirements applicable to the States for the approval of State numbering systems. The regulations in subparts A, B, and D of this part have preemptive effect over conflicting State or local regulation. The regulations in subpart C of this part have preemptive effect over State or local regulation within the same field, except to the extent that Congress requires the Coast Guard to allow State casualty reporting systems pursuant to 46 U.S.C. chapter 131.

As used in this part –

Airboat means a vessel that is typically flat-bottomed and propelled by an aircraft-type propeller powered by an engine.

Auxiliary sail means a vessel with sail as its primary method of propulsion and mechanical propulsion as its secondary method.

Cabin motorboat means a vessel propelled by propulsion machinery and providing enclosed spaces inside its structure.

Certificate of number means the certificate required by 33 CFR 173.21.

Charter fishing means a vessel carrying a passenger(s) for hire who is (are) engaged in recreational fishing.

Commercial fishing means a vessel that commercially engages in the catching, taking, or harvesting of fish which, either in whole or in part, is intended to enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade.

Houseboat means a motorized vessel that is usually non-planing and designed primarily for multi-purpose accommodation spaces with low freeboard and little or no foredeck or cockpit.

Hull identification number or HIN means a number required by 33 CFR 181.23.

Inboard, in the context of an engine, means an engine mounted inside the confines of a vessel which powers a drive shaft that turns a water jet impeller or that runs through the bottom of the hull and is attached to a propeller at the other end.

Inflatable boat means a vessel that uses air-filled flexible fabric for buoyancy.

Open motorboat means a vessel equipped with propulsion machinery and having an open load carrying area that does not have a continuous deck to protect it from the entry of water.

Operate means use, navigate, or employ.

Operator means the person who is in control or in charge of a vessel while it is in operation.

Outboard, in the context of an engine, means an engine with propeller or water jet integrally attached, which is usually mounted at the stern of a vessel.

Owner means a person, other than a secured party, having property rights in or title to a vessel, including persons entitled to use or possess a vessel subject to a security interest in another person, but excluding lessees under a lease not intended as security.

Paddlecraft means a vessel powered only by its occupants, using a single or double bladed paddle as a lever without the aid of a fulcrum provided by oarlocks, thole pins, crutches, or similar arrangements.

Person means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of any of them.

Personal watercraft means a vessel propelled by a water-jet pump or other machinery as its primary source of motive power and designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than sitting or standing within thevessel’s hull.

Pod drive means an engine mounted in front of the transom of a vessel and attached through the bottom of the hull to a steerable propulsion unit.

Pontoon boat means a vessel with a broad, flat deck that is affixed on top of closed cylinders which are used for buoyancy, the basic design of which is usually implemented with two rows of floats as a catamaran or with three rows of floats as a trimaran.

Reporting authority means a State listed in 33 CFR part 173, Appendix A, as having a numbering system approved by the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard itself when a numbering system has not been approved.

Rowboat means an open vessel manually propelled by oars.

Sail only means a vessel propelled only by sails.

State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

State of principal operation means the State in whose waters a vessel is or will be operated most during a calendar year.

Sterndrive means an engine, powering a propeller using shifts and gears, mounted in front of the transom of a vessel and attached through the transom to a drive unit that is similar to the lower unit of an outboard, which may also be known as an inboard-outdrive or an inboard-outboard.

Vessel means every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water.

The Commandant approves a State numbering system if he or she finds, after examination of the information submitted by aState, that the State numbering system and vessel casualty reporting system meet the requirements of this part, 46 U.S.C.6102, and 46 U.S.C. Chapter 123.

To obtain approval by the Commandant of a numbering system or of any revision to a numbering system, an authorized representative of the State must submit three copies of the State laws, regulations, forms, and policy statements, if any, that pertain to the numbering system or revision to Commandant (CG-BSX), Attn: Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7501, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7501.

(a) Except as allowed in paragraph (c) of this section, a State numbering system must require the numbering of vessels to which § 173.11 of this chapter applies.

(b) A State numbering system may require the numbering of any vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the State unless prohibited by the regulations in Part 173 of this chapter.

(c) A State numbering system may exempt from its numbering requirements any vessel or class of vessels to which § 173.13 of this chapter applies.

A State numbering system must contain the requirements applicable to an owner or a person operating a vessel that are prescribed in the following sections of Part 173:

(a) Paragraph (a) of § 173.15Vessel number required.

(b) Section 173.19Other numbers prohibited.

(c) Paragraph (a) of § 173.21Certificate of number required.

(d) Section 173.23Inspection of certificate.

(e) Section 173.25Location of certificate of number.

(f) Section 173.29Notification of issuing authority.

(g) Section 173.71Application for certificate of number.

(h) Section 173.73Duplicate certificate of number.

(i) Section 173.77Validity of certificate of number.

In addition to the requirements in § 174.13, a State numbering system may contain any of the other requirements applicable to a vessel owner or operator prescribed in Part 173.

(a) If a State issues validation stickers, its numbering system must contain the requirements that stickers must be displayed within 6 inches of the number and the stickers must meet the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Validation stickers must be approximately 3 inches square.

(c) The year in which each validation sticker expires must be indicated by the colors, blue, international orange, green, and red, in rotation beginning with blue for stickers that expire in 1973.

(a) As used in this section, “action” means an action by an issuing authority listed in 33 CFR part 173, Appendix A, to issue, renew, or update the ownership information for a certificate of number under this part but does not include the issuance of a temporary certificate under 33 CFR 174.21.

(b) As of January 1, 2017, before taking any action relating to a vessel imported or manufactured on or after November 1, 1972, the issuing authority must determine whether the vessel has a primary HIN meeting the requirements of 33 CFR part 181, subpart C.

(c) If, pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the issuing authority determines that the vessel does not have a primary HIN meeting the requirements of 33 CFR part 181, subpart C, then before taking any action the issuing authority must –

(1) Assign such a primary HIN to the vessel; and

(2) Verify that the owner of the vessel has permanently affixed the assigned primary HIN to the vessel in compliance with33 CFR part 181, subpart C.

(a) An application for a certificate of number must contain the following information:

(1) Name of owner.

(2) Address of owner, including ZIP code.

(3) Owner identifier, which must be the owner’s tax identification number, date of birth together with driver’s license number, or date of birth together with other unique number.

(4) State of principal operation.

(5) Number previously issued by an issuing authority.

(6) Application type: Authorized terms are “new number”, “renewal of number”, or “transfer of ownership”.

(7) Primary operation: Authorized terms are, “charter fishing”, “commercial fishing”, “commercial passenger carrying”, “dealer or manufacturer demonstration”, “other commercial operation”, “pleasure”, or “rent or lease”.

(8) Make and model of vessel.

(9) Model year.

(10) Hull identification number, if any.

(11) Overall length of vessel.

(12) Vessel type: Authorized terms are “air boat”, “auxiliary sail”, “cabin motorboat”, “houseboat”, “inflatable boat”, “open motorboat”, “paddlecraft”, “personal watercraft”, “pontoon boat”, “rowboat”, “sail only”, or “other”.

(13) Hull material: Authorized terms are “aluminum”, “fiberglass”, “plastic”, “rubber/vinyl/canvas”, “steel”, “wood”, or “other”.

(14) Propulsion type: Authorized terms are “air thrust”, “manual”, “propeller”, “sail”, “water jet”, or “other”.

(15) Engine drive type: Authorized terms are “inboard”, “outboard”, “pod drive”, “sterndrive”, or “other”.

(16) Fuel: Authorized terms are “electric”, “diesel”, “gas”, or “other”.

(17) Signature of the owner.

(b)

(1) An application made by a manufacturer or dealer for a number that is to be temporarily affixed to a vessel for demonstration or test purposes may omit the information under paragraphs (a)(9) through (a)(17) of this section.

(2) An application made by an owner of a vessel without propulsion machinery may omit the information under paragraphs (a)(16) and (a)(17) of this section.

(c) For an issuing authority listed in 33 CFR part 173, Appendix A on April 27, 2012, the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section apply on January 1, 2017. Between April 27, 2012 and January 1, 2017, the issuing authority may continue to accept applications containing the contents required by that reporting authority prior to April 27, 2012.

(a) Except as allowed in paragraph (b) of this section, each certificate of number must contain the following information:

(1) Number issued to the vessel.

(2) Expiration date of the certificate.

(3) State of principal operation.

(4) Name of owner.

(5) Address of owner, including ZIP code.

(6) Primary operation: Authorized terms are, “charter fishing”, “commercial fishing”, “commercial passenger carrying”, “dealer or manufacturer demonstration”, “other commercial operation”, “pleasure”, or “rent or lease”.

(7) Hull identification number, if any.

(8) Make and model of vessel.

(9) Model year.

(10) Overall length of vessel.

(11) Vessel type: Authorized terms are “air boat”, “auxiliary sail”, “cabin motorboat”, “houseboat”, “inflatable boat”, “open motorboat”, “paddlecraft”, “personal watercraft”, “pontoon boat”, “rowboat”, “sail only”, or “other”.

(12) Hull material: Authorized terms are “aluminum”, “fiberglass”, “plastic”, “rubber/vinyl/canvas”, “steel”, “wood”, or “other”.

(13) Propulsion type: Authorized terms are “air thrust”, “manual”, “propeller”, “sail”, “water jet”, or “other”.

(14) Engine drive type: Authorized terms are “inboard”, “outboard”, “pod drive”, “sterndrive”, or “other”.

(15) Fuel: Authorized terms are “electric”, “diesel”, “gas”, or “other”.

(b)

(1) A certificate of number issued to a manufacturer or dealer for use on a vessel for test or demonstration purposes may omit the information under paragraphs (a)(7) through (a)(15) of this section if the word “manufacturer” or “dealer” is plainly marked on the certificate.

(2) A certificate of number issued for a vessel without propulsion machinery may omit paragraphs (a)(14) and (a)(15) of this section if the words “manual vessel” are plainly marked on the certificate.

(3) An issuing authority may print on the certificate of number a quotation of State boating regulations or other boating-related information, such as safety reminders, registration, or law enforcement contact information.

(c) For an issuing authority listed in Appendix A of this part on April 27, 2012, the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section apply on January 1, 2017. Between April 27, 2012 and January 1, 2017, the issuing authority may continue to issue certificates of number containing the contents in effect on April 27, 2012.

(a) An issuing authority may issue a temporary certificate of number, valid for no more than 60 days from its date of issuance.

(b) Each temporary certificate must contain the following information:

(1) Vessel’s hull identification number, if any.

(2) Make of vessel.

(3) Overall length of vessel.

(4) Type of propulsion.

(5) State in which vessel is principally operated.

(6) Name of owner.

(7) Address of owner, including ZIP code.

(8) Signature of owner.

(9) Date of issuance.

(10) Notice to the owner that the temporary certificate is valid for the time it specifies, not to exceed 60 days from the date of issuance.

(c) For an issuing authority listed in 33 CFR part 173, Appendix A on April 27, 2012, the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section apply on January 1, 2017. Between April 27, 2012 and January 1, 2017, the issuing authority may continue to issue temporary certificates containing the contents in effect on April 27, 2012.

(a) Each number must consist of two capital letters denoting the State of the issuing authority, as specified in Appendix A ofPart 173 of this chapter, followed by –

(1) Not more than four numerals followed by not more than two capital letters (example: NH 1234 BD); or

(2) Not more than three numerals followed by not more than three capital letters (example: WN 567 EFG).

(b) A number suffix must not include the letters “I”, “O”, or “Q,” which may be mistaken for numerals.

Each certificate of number must be approximately 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

A certificate of number must not be valid for more than 3 years.

A State may issue a temporary certificate of number that is effective for not more than 60 days.

A State numbering system may condition the issuance of a certificate of number on –

(a) Title to, or other proof of ownership of a vessel except a recreational-type public vessel of the United States; or

(b) Proof of liability insurance for a vessel except a recreational-type public vessel of the United States; or

(c) The payment of State or local taxes, except for a recreational-type public vessel of the United States.