USCG Requirements

This is federal documentation managed by the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

What it does

Establishes the boat as a U.S. flagged vessel (important for travel in international waters).
Provides legal proof of ownership (like a house deed).Makes it easier to finance boats because lenders prefer a federally recorded ownership lien.
Required for commercial vessels over 5 gross tons.
Optional for recreational vessels 25+ feet (though many underwriters like it).
You receive the Official Number (like NO. 1234567) which is the 6 or 7 digit number awarded to the vessel at the time it is first documented with the US Coast Guard. This number remains with the vessel indefinitely and should be marked in accordance with 46 CFR 67.121.

The application for documentation must include a name for the vessel composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals and may not exceed 33 characters. The name may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; may not contain or be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
Must not be less than four (4) inches in height (all characters).
The vessel must have the official number permanently affixed in block-type Arabic numerals of not less than 3 inches in height, preceded by the letters “NO.” on some clearly visible interior integral structural part of the vessel.
The “hailing port” must include a place and a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be abbreviated.

The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
Can be on the transom or either side of the vessel.
Many recreational vessels will place the vessel name and hailing port on the stern, and vessel name on both sides of the bow, which is required for a commercial vessel. Although not required for a recreational vessel, this is an acceptable option.
The above requirement for vessel name and hailing port to be clearly visible may necessitate duplicating the name and hailing port on either side of the hull.
When dinghy’s are stored on the swim platform or transom causing the vessel’s name and hailing port to be obscured from view, there is no Federal requirement to place the name and hailing port elsewhere. That is a Law Enforcement issue only.
Federal Vessel Documentation is a federal issue and is not open to enforcement or interpretation by the state.

*If renaming a Federally Documented Vessel, you must file the new name and port here: https://unitedstatesvessel.us/vessel-name-hailing-port-change/