[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR300.14]

[Page 713-714]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
        CHAPTER III--INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
 
PART 300_INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart B_High Seas Fisheries
 
Sec. 300.14  Vessel identification.

    (a) General. A vessel permitted under this subpart must be marked 
for identification purposes in accordance with this section.
    (b) Marking. Vessels must be marked either:
    (1) In accordance with vessel identification requirements specified 
in Federal fishery regulations issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Act or 
under other Federal fishery management statutes; or
    (2) In accordance with the following identification requirements:
    (i) A vessel must be marked with its IRCS, or, if not assigned an 
IRCS, must be marked (in order of priority) with its Federal, state, or 
other documentation number appearing on its high seas fishing permit;
    (ii) The markings must be displayed at all times on the vessel's 
side or superstructure, port and starboard, as well as on a deck;
    (iii) The markings must be placed so that they do not extend below 
the waterline, are not obscured by fishing gear, whether stowed or in 
use, and are clear of flow from scuppers or overboard discharges that 
might damage or discolor the markings;
    (iv) Block lettering and numbering must be used;
    (v) The height of the letters and numbers must be in proportion to 
the size of the vessel as follows: for vessels 25 meters (m) and over in 
length, the height of letters and numbers must be no less than 1.0 m; 
for vessels 20 m but less than 25 m in length, the height of letters and 
numbers must be no less than 0.8 m; for vessels 15 m but less than 20 m 
in length, the height of letters and numbers must be no less than 0.6 m; 
for vessels 12 m but less than 15 m in length, the height of letters and

[[Page 714]]

numbers must be no less than 0.4 m; for vessels 5 m but less than 12 m 
in length, the height of letters and numbers must be no less than 0.3 m; 
and for vessels under 5 m in length, the height of letters and numbers 
must be no less than 0.1 m;
    (vi) The height of the letters and numbers to be placed on decks 
must be no less than 0.3 m;
    (vii) The length of the hyphen(s), if any, must be half the height 
(h) of the letters and numbers;
    (viii) The width of the stroke for all letters, numbers, and hyphens 
must be h/6;
    (ix) The space between letters and/or numbers must not exceed h/4 
nor be less than h/6;
    (x) The space between adjacent letters having sloping sides must not 
exceed h/8 nor be less than h/10;
    (xi) The marks must be white on a black background, or black on a 
white background;
    (xii) The background must extend to provide a border around the mark 
of no less than h/6; and
    (xiii) The marks and the background must be maintained in good 
condition at all times.

[64 FR 15, Jan. 4, 1999]