(a) The owner of a vessel to which § 173.11 of this part applies and for which a certificate of number is required may apply for that certificate to the issuing authority for the vessel's State of principal operation listed in Appendix A of this part. The application must be made in the manner specified by the issuing authority and must be accompanied by payment of any fee required by the issuing authority.

(b) Upon determination that the owner's application for a certificate of number complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, the issuing authority may issue a certificate of number.

(c) A duplicate certificate of number may be applied for and issued as provided by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section upon the owner's statement that the original certificate is lost or destroyed.

A temporary certificate valid for not more than 60 days after it is issued may be issued by an issuing authority pending the issue of a certificate of number. A temporary certificate is not valid after the date that the owner receives the certificate of number from the issuing authority.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section, a certificate of number is valid until the date of expiration prescribed by the issuing authority.

(b) A certificate of number issued by an issuing authority is invalid after the date upon which:

(1) The vessel is documented or required to be documented under Part 67 of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) The person whose name appears on the certificate of number as owner of the vessel transfer all of his or her ownership in the vessel; or

(3) The vessel is destroyed or abandoned.

(c) A certificate of number issued by an issuing authority is invalid if:

(1) The application for the certificate of number contains a false or fraudulent statement; or

(2) The fees for the issuance of the certificate of number are not paid.

(d) A certificate of number is invalid 60 days after the day on which the vessel is no longer principally operated in the State where the certificate was issued.

(e) The certificate of number is invalid when the person whose name appears on the certificate involuntarily loses his or her interest in the numbered vessel by legal process.

A certificate of number issued by the Coast Guard expires 3 years from the date it is issued.

(a) In a State where the Coast Guard is the issuing authority, the following Coast Guard forms must be used:

(1) Each application for a certificate of number or renewal must be made on two-part Form CG-3876 and 3876A, Application for Number and Temporary Certificate.

(2) Each notification required by § 173.29(b) must be made on Form CG-2921, Notification of Change in Status of Vessel.

(3) Each notification required by § 173.29(a) must be made on Form CG-3920, Change of Address Notice.

(4) Each notification required by § 173.29(c) must be made in writing.

(5) Each application for a duplicate certificate of number must be made on two-part Form CG-3919 and CG-3919A, Application for Duplicate Certificate of Number and Temporary Duplicate Certificate.

(6) Each vessel casualty required to be reported by § 173.55 must be made on Form CG-3865.

(b) Each surrender of a certificate of number required by § 173.31 may be made in any form but must contain a written statement as to why the certificate is being surrendered.

In a State where the Coast Guard is the issuing authority, forms required by § 173.81 are available at all manned Coast Guard shore units, except light and loran stations and except for Form CG-3865, at all first- and second-class and some third- and fourth-class post offices.

(a) In a State where the Coast Guard is the issuing authority, the fees for issuing certificates of number are:

(1) Original or transferred certificate of number and two validation stickers—$24.

(2) Renewed certificate of number and two validation stickers—$16.

(3) Duplicate certificate of number—$9.

(4) Replacement of lost or destroyed validation stickers—$9.

(b) Fees are payable by check or money-order made payable to the “U.S. Coast Guard”; by major credit card (MasterCard or Visa); or, when the owner applies in person, in cash.