---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 174.17"
title: "33"
number: "174.17"
heading: "Contents of application for certificate of number."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/174.17"
---

# §174.17. Contents of application for certificate of number.

- (a) An application for a certificate of number must contain the following information:
  - (1) **Name of owner.**
  - (2) **Address of owner, including ZIP code.**
  - (3) Owner identifier, which must be the owner's tax identification number, date of birth together with driver's license number, or date of birth together with other unique number.
  - (4) **State of principal operation.**
  - (5) **Number previously issued by an issuing authority.**
  - (6) **Application type—** Authorized terms are “new number”, “renewal of number”, or “transfer of ownership”.
  - (7) **Primary operation—** Authorized terms are, “charter fishing”, “commercial fishing”, “commercial passenger carrying”, “dealer or manufacturer demonstration”, “other commercial operation”, “pleasure”, or “rent or lease”.
  - (8) **Make and model of vessel.**
  - (9) **Model year.**
  - (10) **Hull identification number, if any.**
  - (11) **Overall length of vessel.**
  - (12) **Vessel type—** Authorized terms are “air boat”, “auxiliary sail”, “cabin motorboat”, “houseboat”, “inflatable boat”, “open motorboat”, “paddlecraft”, “personal watercraft”, “pontoon boat”, “rowboat”, “sail only”, or “other”.
  - (13) **Hull material—** Authorized terms are “aluminum”, “fiberglass”, “plastic”, “rubber/vinyl/canvas”, “steel”, “wood”, or “other”.
  - (14) **Propulsion type—** Authorized terms are “air thrust”, “manual”, “propeller”, “sail”, “water jet”, or “other”.
  - (15) **Engine drive type—** Authorized terms are “inboard”, “outboard”, “pod drive”, “sterndrive”, or “other”.
  - (16) **Fuel—** Authorized terms are “electric”, “diesel”, “gas”, or “other”.
  - (17) **Signature of the owner.**
- (b)
  - (1) An application made by a manufacturer or dealer for a number that is to be temporarily affixed to a vessel for demonstration or test purposes may omit the information under [paragraphs (a)(9) through (a)(17)](#a-9..a-17) of this section.
  - (2) An application made by an owner of a vessel without propulsion machinery may omit the information under paragraphs [(a)(16)](#a-16) and [(a)(17)](#a-17) of this section.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14963, 77 FR 18702, Mar. 28, 2012, as amended by USCG-2024-1103, 90 FR 52879, Nov. 24, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 6101 and 12302; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21402, Oct. 7, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2003-14963, 77 FR 18702, Mar. 28, 2012, as amended by USCG-2024-1103, 90 FR 52879, Nov. 24, 2025]