[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 33, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 33CFR173.3]

[Page 801-802]
 
                TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 173--VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 173.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    (a) [Reserved]
    (b) Issuing authority means a State that has a numbering system 
approved by the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard where a number system has 
not been approved. Issuing authorities are listed in Appendix A of this 
part.
    (c) Operator means the person who is in control or in charge of a 
vessel while it is in use.
    (d) Owner means a person who claims lawful possession of a vessel by 
virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein which entitles him 
to such possession.
    (e) Person means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, 
company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity 
and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of 
any of them.
    (f) Reporting authority means a State that has a numbering system 
approved by the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard where a numbering system 
has not been approved. Reporting authorities are listed in Appendix A of 
this part.
    (g) State means a State of the United States, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the District 
of Columbia.
    (h) State of principal use means the State on whose waters a vessel 
is used or to be used most during a calendar year.

[[Page 802]]

    (i) Use means operate, navigate, or employ.

[CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, as amended by CGD 77-117A, 43 FR 
17941, Apr. 27, 1978; CGD 89-048, 54 FR 2702, June 27, 1989]