{"data":{"id":"us/33-cfr-187.9","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"33 CFR 187.9","heading":"What is a vessel identifier and how is one assigned?","body":"(a) The vessel identifier for a vessel having a valid HIN is the HIN.\n(b) If a vessel does not have a valid HIN, a vessel identifier is assigned under the following table:\nTable 187.9(b)—Vessel Identifier Assignments\nIf the vessel is: And does not have a valid HIN: Then the vessel identifier is:\n(1) Documented The official number assigned by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR part 67.\n(2) Documented And is transferred to a new owner The HIN assigned by the Coast Guard.\n(3) Undocumented And must be numbered under 33 CFR parts 173 and 174 The number issued on a certificate of number by the issuing authority of the State of principal operation, provided the number will not be used in the future to identify a different vessel.\n(4) Undocumented And is transferred to a new owner The HIN assigned by the issuing authority of the State of principal operation.\n(5) Undocumented And the vessel is required to be numbered or titled in a new State of principal operation The HIN assigned by the issuing authority of the State of principal operation.","path":["Title 33—Navigation and Navigable Waters","CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","SUBCHAPTER S—BOATING SAFETY","PART 187—VESSEL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM","Subpart A—General"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-33.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:25:35Z","sha256":"8ddf77c4078688c2426a67b4e7e84e7bee95bfbfdc49bb0b5fa3916fca8635e1","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/33-cfr-187.7","next":"us/33-cfr-187.11"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}