46 USC § 12303 - Exemption from numbering requirements

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12303"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "46 USC § 12303 - Exemption from numbering requirements"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
section_number: "12303"
section_name: "Exemption from numbering requirements"
chapter_number: 123
chapter_name: "NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS"
part_number: "H"
part_name: "Identification of Vessels"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)"
---


# § 12303. Exemption from numbering requirements

**(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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)

| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| --- | --- |
| 12303 | 46:1468 |

Section 12303 permits the Secretary and any State, when it is the issuing authority, to exempt vessels from the numbering requirements.