---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12303"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "12303"
heading: "Exemption from numbering requirements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/12303"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Vessels and Seamen"
  - "Part H — Identification of Vessels"
  - "Chapter 123 — Numbering Undocumented Vessels"
---

# §12303. Exemption from numbering requirements

- (a) When the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) is the authority issuing a number under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may exempt a vessel or class of vessels from the numbering requirements of this chapter under conditions the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46) may prescribe.
- (b) When a State is the issuing authority, it may exempt from the numbering requirements of this chapter a vessel or class of vessels exempted under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section or otherwise as permitted by the [Secretary](/usc/46/2101.md?p=46).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 12303 | 46:1468 |

Section 12303 permits the Secretary and any State, when it is the issuing authority, to exempt vessels from the numbering requirements.