How to Legally Change a Vessel Name
Use this form to change a documented vessel name.
Should there be an outstanding mortgage on the vessel, before you change the vessel’s name you have to apply for permission from the mortgagee/lender. 
What are some reasons to change a vessel name?
- New ownership: When a vessel changes ownership, the new owner may choose to rename it. This is often done to reflect their own personal preferences or to symbolize a new beginning for the vessel.
- Bad luck: There is a long-standing superstition that changing the name of a vessel is bad luck. However, many people still choose to do so if they believe that the vessel’s current name is associated with bad luck.
- Damage or repair: If a vessel is severely damaged or repaired, the owner may choose to rename it to symbolize its rebirth.
- New purpose: If a vessel is converted to a new purpose, such as from a commercial vessel to a pleasure boat, the owner may choose to rename it to reflect its new role.
- Personal preference: Simply, the owner of a vessel may simply prefer a different name. This is especially common for pleasure boats, which are often given names that are meaningful to the owner or their family.
In addition to these general reasons, there are also a number of specific reasons why vessel names may be changed. For example, a vessel may be renamed to honor a person or event, such as when a new military vessel is named after a fallen soldier. Or, a vessel may be renamed to reflect a change in its ownership or operation, such as when a shipping company is acquired by another company.
Are there vessel name laws?
In regards to the vessel name, 46 CFR 67.117 states:
“The name designated: must be composed of letters or the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals; may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and may not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.”
After the above form has been filed and returned to you, then you can remove the vessel’s previous name and mark the new one.
The requirements for 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.”
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.”
In that same vessel documentation form, you may also change your vessel’s hailing port.
In regards to designating a hailing port, 46 CFR 67.119 states:
“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. The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.”
Note: the vessel’s hailing 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.
What is the importance of Vessel Name laws?
Vessel name laws need to be followed for a number of reasons, including:
- Safety: Vessel names are used to identify vessels in distress and to coordinate search and rescue operations. Therefore, it is important that vessel names are unique and clearly visible, so that they can be easily read and understood by other mariners.
- Security: Vessel names are also used to identify vessels and their owners for security purposes. This helps to prevent maritime crime, such as smuggling and piracy.
- Order: Vessel name laws help to ensure that there is order on the waterways. By requiring vessels to have unique names, it is easier to identify vessels that are breaking the law or that are involved in accidents.
- Tradition: Vessel naming is a long-standing tradition in the maritime industry. Vessel names can carry a lot of meaning and symbolism for their owners and operators. Vessel name laws help to preserve this tradition and to ensure that vessel names are treated with respect.
In addition to these general reasons, there are also a number of specific reasons why vessel name laws may be in place. For example, some jurisdictions may have laws that restrict the use of certain words or phrases in vessel names, such as words that are obscene or offensive. Or, some jurisdictions may have laws that require vessels to display their names in a certain way, such as in a specific font size or color.
Use this link to obtain a certificate if your vessel does not have a USCG Certificate of Documentation.
If you have further questions about USCG vessel documentation, contact the Vessel Registrar Center at info@usvesselregistrar.us or (800) 535-8570 Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.