Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73
§12303 Exemption from numbering requirements
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part H— - Identification of Vessels › Chapter CHAPTER 123— - NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS › § 12303
Summary
If the Secretary is the one who issues boat numbers, the Secretary can let a boat or a group of boats not have a number, under rules the Secretary sets. If a State issues the numbers, the State can also exempt boats that the Secretary exempted or other boats the Secretary allows.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §12303
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)When the Secretary is the authority issuing a number under this chapter, the Secretary may exempt a vessel or class of vessels from the numbering requirements of this chapter under conditions the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)When a State is the issuing authority, it may exempt from the numbering requirements of this chapter a vessel or class of vessels exempted under subsection (a) of this section or otherwise as permitted by the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1230346:1468 section 12303 permits the Secretary and any State, when it is the issuing authority, to exempt vessels from the numbering requirements.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 12303
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73