You Do Not Have to Name Your Boat, Unless It’s Documented With the Coast Guard
Here at Vessel Placards, you can document your vessel with the Coast Guard. If your vessel is documented, then you must name your vessel.
Even if you don’t document your vessel, you can choose to name it. But, you are not required to do so.
Use this link to document your vessel.
Naming Your Vessel In Greater Detail
If you’re a vessel owner, understanding the nuances of naming your boat and designating a hailing port is crucial for compliance with United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations. Beyond legal requirements, these elements play a significant role in your vessel’s identity, representing both your personal style and your commitment to maritime standards.
Here at Vessel Placards, we not only simplify the process of renewing vessel documentation but also we also provide legally compliant placards, ensuring your vessel remains in good standing with the USCG.
Vessel Naming Guidelines
When naming your vessel, there are some important guidelines to consider. The name cannot exceed 33 characters, including spaces and punctuation. While this limitation might seem restrictive, it serves a practical purpose: a long name can overwhelm the appearance of your boat, making it difficult to read when displayed prominently on the hull.
Additionally, the name of your vessel must steer clear of words or phrases commonly associated with distress signals. For example, names resembling “Maye-Day” or similar calls for help could cause confusion in emergency situations, potentially delaying critical assistance.
Equally important is avoiding names that are obscene, profane, or indecent. A boat’s name reflects its owner, so selecting something tasteful and meaningful ensures it represents you in the best possible light.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect name, it’s important to display it in accordance with USCG guidelines. Your vessel’s name must be marked using Latin letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. This is why many boats incorporate numerals like “V” or “IV” in their names.
If you decide to change the name of your vessel, you’ll need to submit a formal application to update your documentation.
How the Hailing Port Figures In
The hailing port serves as your vessel’s official home for documentation purposes. It’s not necessarily where the boat spends most of its time; rather, it’s a designated location within the United States that you choose to represent your vessel’s base. This port must be clearly identified in your vessel documentation and displayed prominently on the exterior of your boat.
USCG regulations specify that the hailing port must include both a place name and its associated state, territory, or U.S. possession. For instance, a valid hailing port could be “Newport Beach, CA” or “Key West, FL.” While abbreviations for the state are acceptable, the port designation must remain clear and legible.
Marking Your Vessel The Right Way
The name and hailing port of your vessel must be marked on its exterior to ensure visibility and compliance with USCG standards. For recreational vessels, this marking is typically required on the hull, while commercial vessels must display the information on the stern and both sides of the bow. While the USCG does not mandate specific fonts, colors, or styles for recreational vessels, the markings must be visible and readable.
For optimal compliance, the markings must also adhere to certain size and placement standards, ensuring they can be easily identified by other mariners and enforcement officials. Vessel Placards offers a streamlined way to obtain placards that meet these requirements, so you can focus on enjoying your time on the water.
Changing the Name or Hailing Port
If you decide to change your vessel’s name or hailing port, the process involves updating your documentation with the USCG. For vessels with an outstanding mortgage, you’ll need permission from your lender or mortgagee before proceeding. This ensures all legal and financial obligations tied to the vessel remain intact.
Legal Compliance Made Simple With Vessel Placards
Navigating the regulations surrounding vessel names and hailing ports might seem complex at first, but staying informed can save you from potential headaches down the line. By choosing a name that aligns with USCG standards, selecting a suitable hailing port, and ensuring all markings are properly displayed, you’ll keep your vessel compliant and ready for the water.
At Vessel Placards, we provide everything you need to meet these requirements efficiently, from renewal of your vessel documentation to durable, USCG-compliant placards. With our help, you can ensure your vessel remains in full compliance while reflecting the personal style and pride you take in being a vessel owner.
Laws Pertaining to Naming Your Vessel
The following laws may fit your specific situation.
- 67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
§ 67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
Subpart I—Marking Requirements for Vessel Documentation
- 67.120 General requirement.
No Certificate of Documentation issued under this part will be deemed valid for operation of the vessel until the vessel is marked in accordance with this subpart.
- 67.121 Official number marking requirement.
The official number of the vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the official number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage to the surrounding hull area.
- 67.123 Name and hailing port marking requirements.
(a) For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
(b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.
(c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
(d) The markings required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.
- 67.125 Disputes.
The OCMI for the zone in which the vessel is principally operated has final authority in any disputes concerning the permanence, durability, legibility, or placement of a vessel’s markings.
Subpart J—Application for Special Qualifications for Vessel Documentation
- 67.130 Submission of applications.
All applications made under this subpart and all subsequent filings to effect documentation, except as provided in § 67.133(b), must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
§ 67.167 Requirement for exchange of Certificate of Documentation.
Remember: you may need permission from others to exchange the COD if there are outstanding mortgages/liens/etc.
(a) When application for exchange of the Certificate of Documentation is required upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section, or the owner of the vessel chooses to apply for exchange of the Certificate pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section, the owner must send or deliver the Certificate to the National Vessel Documentation Center, and apply for an exchange of the Certificate in accordance with subpart K of this part.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161, when:
(1) The ownership of the vessel changes in whole or in part;
(2) The general partners of a partnership change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(3) The State of incorporation of any corporate owner of the vessel changes;
(4) The name of the vessel changes;
(5) The hailing port of the vessel changes; or
(6) The vessel is placed under the command of a person who is not a citizen of the United States.
(c) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161 and in paragraph (f) of this section, if the vessel is not at sea, or upon the vessel’s next arrival in port anywhere in the world if the vessel is at sea, when:
(1) The gross or net tonnages or dimensions of the vessel change;
(2) Any beneficiary with an enforceable interest in a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition or substitution;
(3) The trustee of a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition, substitution, or deletion;
(4) A tenant by the entirety owning any part of the vessel dies;
(5) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by addition or substitution;
(6) The legal name of any owner of the vessel changes;
(7) A self-propelled vessel becomes non-self-propelled or a non-self-propelled vessel becomes self-propelled;
(8) The endorsements for the vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(9) A substantive or clerical error made by the issuing documentation officer is discovered; and
(10) For a vessel with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12119, one of the events in § 68.80 or § 68.111 of this chapter occurs.
(d) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner of a documented vessel must apply for exchange of the Certificate upon an election to designate a new managing owner of the vessel in accordance with § 67.113.
(e) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner may apply for exchange of the Certificate if:
(1) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by deletion; or
(2) The vessel attains a special entitlement under subpart J of this part.
(f) A Certificate of Documentation which becomes invalid pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section remains valid for the purposes of filing a new mortgage or amendment, assignment, assumption, or subordination agreement for 30 days after the date it would otherwise have become invalid.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2001-8825, 69 FR 5401, Feb. 4, 2004; USCG-2005-20258, 71 FR 61418, Oct. 18, 2006; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
Help With Questions Such as “Do You Need to Name Your Boat?”
If you choose to name your boat, you can do so through our site. Here, you can find placards that will put you in legal compliance with the authorities. To see all of the placards that we have to offer, click here.