33 CFR § 173.15 - Vessel number required.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s173.15"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 173.15 - Vessel number required."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "173.15"
section_name: "Vessel number required."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "S"
subchapter_name: "BOATING SAFETY"
part_number: "173"
part_name: "VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2110, 6101, 12301, 12302; OMB Circular A-25; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "173"
---


# 173.15 Vessel number required.

(a) Except as provided in § 173.17, no person may use a vessel to which this part applies unless:

(1) It has a number issued on a certificate of number by the issuing authority in the State of principal operation; and

(2) The number is displayed as described in § 173.27.

(b) This section does not apply to a vessel for which a valid temporary certificate has been issued to its owner by the issuing authority in the State of principal operation.

[CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, as amended by USCG-2003-14963, 77 FR 18699, Mar. 28, 2012]