PDFWAC 308-93-145
Vessel registration numbers—Display, size, color.
(1) What vessels are required to display a vessel registration number? All vessels registered under chapter 88.02 RCW are required to display the vessel registration numbers. Vessels documented by the United States Coast Guard are prohibited from displaying the registration number.
(2) What are vessel registration numbers? Vessel registration numbers are configured in accordance with 33 C.F.R. 174.23 and:
(a) Uniquely identify a vessel (the same way license plate numbers identify a vehicle);
(b) Are assigned by the department when you apply for initial registration for your vessel or when a vessel owner is retaining the registration number issued by the United States Coast Guard prior to July 1984;
(c) Are printed on your registration certificate and certificate of ownership;
(3) How do I display the assigned vessel registration number on my vessel? The registration number assigned must:
(a) Be painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel and easily visible for law enforcement except as allowed by subsection (6) of this section or required by subsection (9) of this section and must be on a vertical surface;
(b) Be in plain vertical block characters of not less than three inches in height;
(c) Contrast with the color of the background and be distinctly visible and legible;
(d) Have spaces or hyphens that are equal to the width of a letter other than "I" or a number other than "1" between the letter and number groupings (example: WN 5678 EF or WN-5678-EF); and
(e) Read from left to right.
(4) Are vessel registration numbers transferable from vessel to vessel? Vessel registration numbers are not transferable between vessels. Once assigned, a vessel registration number cannot be reassigned to another vessel.
(5) Does a Washington licensed dealer need to display registration numbers and decals when demonstrating or testing a vessel held for sale? Washington licensed vessel dealers must display dealer registration numbers and decals assigned and issued by the department. Dealer registration numbers and decals must be displayed in the following manner:
(a) The department assigned dealer vessel registration number must be permanently attached to a backing plate;
(b) The department issued decal must be affixed within six inches aft of and directly on line with the dealer registration number as provided by WAC 308-90-070(1); and
(c) The backing plate must be attached to the forward half of the vessel so that the number is visible from each side of the vessel when observed from outside the vessel.
(6) How do I display my vessel registration number if my vessel’s hull or superstructure is configured so that the vessel registration number would not be easily visible? In this case, the vessel registration number must be painted on or permanently attached to backing plates that are attached to the forward half of the vessel so that the number is visible from the outside of the vessel.
(7) Are any numbers other than those issued by an issuing authority allowed on the front half of my vessel? No person may use a vessel on the waters of this state that has any number that is not issued by an issuing authority (as defined in WAC 308-93-010) for that vessel on its forward half.
(8) Are there any letters that may not be used in the configuration of a vessel registration number? Yes, the letters I, O, and Q. Registration numbers that currently contain I, O, and Q will be reassigned by the department upon registration renewal due on or after July 1, 2004.
(9) Is a tender as described in chapter 88.02 RCW required to display a vessel registration number? Vessels used as a tender, while exempt from registration under RCW 88.02.030, must display the numbers of the parent vessel with an additional number following the letter of the vessel registration number. (Example a) WN 5678 EF 1 or WN-5678-EF-1. The second tender vessel registration number will be the next consecutive number. (Example b) WN 5678 EF 2 or WN-5678-EF-2.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 88.02.070 and 88.02.100. WSR 01-11-100, § 308-93-145, filed 5/21/01, effective 6/21/01; WSR 00-23-094, § 308-93-145, filed 11/21/00, effective 12/22/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 88.02.100. WSR 00-09-065, § 308-93-145, filed 4/18/00, effective 5/19/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 88.02.070 and 88.02.100. WSR 99-21-097, § 308-93-145, filed 10/20/99, effective 11/20/99; WSR 84-13-086 (Order TL-RG-2), § 308-93-145, filed 6/21/84.]