Yes, it can. In fact, it can be changed as many times as you’d like. All you have to do to change the name of your documented vessel (on your USCG documentation) is to file the “Change of Vessel Name or Hailing Port” form at our site.
According to 67.117 Vessel name designation:
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- (a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
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- (1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
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- (2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
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- (b) The name designated:
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- (1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
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- (2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
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- (3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
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- (c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
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- (d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.