Hailing Port
BoatWiki - Definitions
Definition
A hailing port can be defined in boating terms as the city and state designation which is shown on the exterior of a particular boat. It is usually located adjacent to the boat's name on a visible part of the stern. The font, size and configuration of such lettering may be regulated if the boat is Coast Guard documented.
Meaning
Although a hailing port can be an arbitrary designation, it usually coincides with the place of permanent moorage or perhaps where the owner resides. The term is often confused with a home port, which became obsolete when the Coast Guard consolidated all of their various documentation ports into a single location. This is now called the National Vessel Documentation Center, which is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Context
The hailing port choice may be arbitrary and does not have to represent the place of permanent moorage or owner's address. However, if the boat is Coast Guard documented, it must conform with a physical location that coincides with a U.S. Postal area zip code. The size and type of lettering must also comply with vessel documentation regulations.
Conclusion
Hailing port designations are only a issue if a boat is Coast Guard documented. Owners should accordingly determine such requirements before installing this type of marking. These can be found in the above WikiTags and throughout the pages of BoatWiki.
Credits and References
4/29/2022 - Page initiated by Team BoatWiki.
