
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC12502]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
                    Part H--Identification of Vessels
 
                CHAPTER 125--VESSEL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
 
Sec. 12502. Identification numbers, signal letters, and markings

    (a) For the identification of a vessel of the United States, the 
Secretary of Transportation--
        (1) shall maintain a unique numbering system and assign a number 
    to each vessel of the United States;
        (2) may maintain a system of signal letters for a documented 
    vessel;
        (3) shall record a name selected by the owner of a documented 
    vessel approved by the Secretary as the vessel's name of record; and
        (4) may establish other identification markings.

    (b) The manufacturer or owner of a vessel shall affix to the vessel 
and maintain in the manner prescribed by the Secretary the number 
assigned and any other markings the Secretary may require.
    (c) Once a number is assigned under this section, it may not be used 
by another vessel.
    (d) Once a documented vessel's name is established, the name may not 
be changed without the approval of the Secretary.
    (e) A person may not tamper with or falsify a number or other 
marking required under this section.

(Pub. L. 100-710, title I, Sec. 101(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4736.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

Revised section 12502
    Subsection (a) of this section requires the Secretary to maintain a 
unique numbering system for vessels of the United States. The Secretary 
may use existing vessel numbering systems such as the hull 
identification number for this purpose, but must ensure that no two 
existing vessels of the United States have the same number. The 
Secretary should consider and propose the use of a 17-digit number to 
implement this requirement. This subsection also requires the Secretary 
to maintain a system of signal letters and to record vessel names for 
documented vessels. The Secretary is authorized to establish other 
vessel identification markings for vessels of the United States, such as 
hailing ports.
    Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) contain other requirements and 
restrictions concerning vessel identification markings.
    This section consolidates the requirements of sections 12114, 12115, 
12116, and 12118 of title 46. For this reason, section 106 of this bill 
repeals those sections.


Vessels Not Having Unique Number; Applicability of Provisions for Number 
                               Assignment

    Section 104(f) of Pub. L. 100-710 provided that: ``Section 
12502(a)(1) of title 46, United States Code (as enacted by section 101 
of this Act), applies to a vessel of the United States that does not 
have a unique number as prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation 
under that section until the earlier of the following:
        ``(1) the next time the vessel is documented, numbered, or 
    titled.
        ``(2) January 1, 1995.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 12507 of this title; title 33 
section 2602.
