Hail Port

The definition of “hailing port” in the context of vessel documentation is: that it’s the port that the USCG will associate with your vessel. It will be on your Certificate of Documentation as well as on the hull of your vessel.

Documented vessels must have a “hail port” or “hailing port.” This port does not have to be the port at which the vessel most often docks. The hailing port can be anywhere you choose, so long as it is a location in America.

If in doubt: the hailing port is not where the vessel owner hails from, but rather, where the vessel hails from.

Use this link to change your documented vessel’s hailing port.

Vessel owners who wish to change the hailing port of their documented vessel or its name can do so with our form for “Change of Vessel Name or Hailing Port.”

Hailing Port Marking

The requirements for boat hailing port lettering (or, as it’s also called, marking your vessel’s name and hailing port) are as follows, according to 46 CFR 67.123:

“The name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly exterior part of the stern of the vessel.”

Hailing Port Marking for Vessels With Different Bows

For vessels with a square bow, “the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.”

For vessels with a recreational endorsement, “the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.”

In terms of materials, the markings “may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.”

If you have further questions about hailing ports or anything else connected to vessel documentation, contact the Vessel Registrar Center at info@usvesselregistrar.us or (800) 535-8570 Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

Laws Touching on Hailing Ports and Other Topics

These are the specific laws for marking hailing ports, Official Numbers, and vessel names.

Subpart I—Marking Requirements for Vessel Documentation

67.120 General requirement.

No Certificate of Documentation issued under this part will be deemed valid for operation of the vessel until the vessel is marked in accordance with this subpart.

67.121 Official number marking requirement.

The official number of the vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the official number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage to the surrounding hull area.

67.119 Hailing port designation.

(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.

(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.

(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.

(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.

67.123 Name and hailing port marking requirements.

(a) For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.

(b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.

(c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.

(d) The markings required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.