Vessel Identification, Registration & Titling

The Coast Guard amended its regulations relating to numbering undocumented vessels and reporting boating accidents. The final rule became effective on April 27, 2012. States have until January 1, 2017 to implement these changes. The purpose of these changes are to improve the information available within and across the Standard Numbering System (SNS), Vessel Identification System (VIS), and the Boating Accident Reporting Database (BARD) by increasing data quality, aligning and modernizing database terminology, requiring verification of hull identification numbers, and requiring owners of SNS numbered vessels to provide unique personal identification information. This document addresses those changes.