[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 33, Volume 2] [Revised as of July 1, 2008] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 33CFR173.21] [Page 878-879] TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY(CONTINUED) PART 173_VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY ANDACCIDENT REPORTING--Table of Contents Subpart B_Numbering Sec. 173.21 Certificate of number required. (a) Except as provided in Sec. Sec. 173.13 and 173.17,no person may use a vessel to which this part applies unless it has onboard: (1) A valid certificate of number or temporary certificate forthat vessel issued by the issuing authority in the State in which thevessel is principally used; or (2) For the vessel described in paragraph (b) of this section, acopy of the lease or rental agreement, signed by the owner or his orher authorized representative and by the person leasing or renting thevessel, that contains at least: (i) The vessel number that appears on the certificate of number;and (ii) The period of time for which the vessel is leased or rented. [[Page 879]] (b) Section 12304(a) of Title 46, United States Code, statesin part: The certificate of number for a vessel less than 26 feet inlength and leased or rented to another for the latter's noncommercialoperation of less than 7 days may be retained on shore by the vessel'sowner or representative at the place from which the vessel departs orreturns to the possession of the owner or the owner's representative. [CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, as amended byCGD 77-117A, 43 FR 17941, Apr. 27, 1978; CGD 89-048, 54FR 27002, June 27, 1989; USCG-2003- 15404, 68 FR 37742,June 25, 2003]