Domestic commercial vessels must have and display a unique identifier unless they are exempt.
A unique identifier is a number that stays with the vessel for its entire life, even if the vessel changes ownership. Unique identifiers help to identify domestic commercial vessels.
A vessel may need to be identified:
- For search and rescue purposes.
- If it has been lost or stolen.
- If it is being operated dangerously or illegally.
- If it is being surveyed.
Some vessels are exempt from the requirement to have a unique identifier, or from displaying it or both.
Different vessels and their unique identifier requirements
- A tender
- Unique identifier is not required.
Conditions
The vessel must be marked with either:
- The words ‘Tender to’ followed by the name or unique identifier of its parent vessel.
- The name of the owner of the vessel followed by the word ‘tender’ or
- The unique identifier of its parent vessel followed by ‘– T’.
- A domestic commercial vessel registered under the Shipping Registration Act 1981.
- Unique identifier is not required.
Conditions
The vessel must be marked in accordance with the Shipping Registration Act 1981 .
- A human powered vessel* including canoes and kayaks
- Must have a unique identifier unless it is covered by a certificate of operation.
- Display of the unique identifier (if it has one) is not required.
- A sailing vessel^ less than 7.5m long
- Must have a unique identifier unless it is covered by a certificate of operation.
- Display of the unique identifier (if it has one) is not required.
- Personal watercraft used in an aerial freestyle device operation
- Must have a unique identifier.
- Display of the unique identifier is not required.
- All other domestic commercial vessels
Definitions
*A human powered vessel is:
- Propelled only by human powered devices.
- A canoe or kayak that is propelled by human powered devices and is fitted with:
- An auxiliary motor of ≤3.5 kW propulsion power, or
- An auxiliary electric propulsion motor of ≤24 volts and a total battery capacity of ≤20 kWh.
^A sailing vessel is a vessel designed for and capable of undertaking a voyage propelled by sail alone, and has:
- No auxiliary motor, or
- An auxiliary motor of ≤3.5 kW propulsion power, or
- An auxiliary electric propulsion motor of ≤24 volts and a total battery capacity of ≤20 kWh.
