Getting your vessel registration in order (or your pleasure craft license in the case of recreational vessels) at the time of purchase is a very important step in cementing your ownership. As part of that process, you will be receiving a number that will serve as your boat hull identification number in Canada going forward. What do you have to do with this number? Well, you will have to display it accordingly.
Your Hull Identification Number in Canada
The implementation of your boat identification number in Canada will be regulated according to the specific situation. Is it a recreational vessel that will need a license or a commercial one that will require registration? Well, let’s take a look at both situations and how you will have to display the number in each.
Displaying Registered Vessels’ Numbers
If what you are doing is registering your commercial vessel, you will have to display the corresponding number in accordance with the guidelines for a boat identification number in Canada. Yeah, registering your vessel will be very important, but so will be making sure that the corresponding registration number is properly displayed on the vessel going forward. Let’s take a look at the specific requirements for these displays.
- Both the name and the registration number need to be displayed on both sides of the vessel’s hull.
- Letter markings have to be at least 10 centimeters or 4 inches.
- Permanent markings need to be etched or affixed regarding tonnage and similar statistics.
- For obvious reasons, the number needs to be above the waterline.
- The colour of the letters needs to distinctly contrast with the colour of the bow.
Pleasure Craft Number
Just like with registered vessels, there are very particular guidelines that need to be taken into account at the time of properly displaying the pleasure craft number on your vessel. If you are not aware of where the pleasure craft number should be displayed or end up painting the digits on the wrong place, you might end up getting in trouble with the Transport Canada authorities. In order to avoid that, let’s make sure you have everything in order.
- The license number needs to be displayed on both sides of the bow.
- For obvious reasons, the number needs to be above the waterline.
- The digits need to be written in block characters that are at least 7.5 centimetres (or 3 inches) high.
- The colour of the letters needs to distinctly contrast with the colour of the bow.
Get Your Registration in Orders
Once you know what you need as part of the process, it will be time to actually submit the application for registration or licensing. You can do so directly and risk delays, or you can submit everything through our platform here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp. We are always making sure that people have easier access to Transport Canada forms and applications, as well as the right venue through which to submit them. You’ll be able to find everything you need here on our website. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling +1 (800) 419-9569 or emailing us at info@canadianvesselregistry.ca.
