Current through November, 2024
Section 13-241-2 - Vessel numbering and titling requirements; operation of certain vessels prohibited(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c): (1) Every undocumented vessel in or on the waters of the State shall be numbered in accordance with this chapter;(2) No person shall place, operate, or give permission for the placement or operation of any undocumented vessel, or any vessel whose number has been cancelled, in or on the waters of the State unless the vessel is properly numbered in accordance with this chapter; and(3) No person shall place, operate, or give permission for the placement or operation of any vessel whose certificate of number has expired, has become dormant, or has the status of 'stored vessel", in or on the waters of the State.(b) A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under this chapter if it is any of the following: (1) A vessel which has a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast Guard or any federal agency successor thereto.(2) A vessel already covered by a number in full force and effect which has been issued to it pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another jurisdiction; provided that the vessel shall not have remained within this State for a period in excess of sixty days.(3) A vessel from a country other than the United States, provided that the vessel has not been in the waters of the State for a period in excess of sixty days.(4) A vessel whose owner is the United States, used exclusively in the public service and is clearly identifiable as such a vessel.(5) A vessel's lifeboat if the boat is used solely for lifesaving purposes. This exemption does not include craft carried aboard a vessel and used for other than lifesaving purposes.(6) A vessel belonging to a class of boats which has been exempted from numbering by the department after it has found that the numbering of vessels of such class will not materially aid in their identification; and, if any agency of the federal government has a numbering system applicable to the class of vessels to which the boat in question belongs, after the department has further found that the vessel would also be exempt from numbering if it were subject to federal law.(7) A vessel manually propelled.(8) A vessel eight feet or less in length propelled solely by sail.(9) A motorboat used exclusively for racing.(10) A vessel operating under a valid temporary certificate of number.(11) A motorboat whose propulsion machinery produces less than five horsepower.(c) A vessel documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, or any federal successor agency thereto, shall be prohibited from obtaining a certificate of title pursuant to chapter 200A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall be prohibited from being numbered under this chapter. A vessel documented by the U.S. Coast Guard may only be titled pursuant to chapter 200A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or numbered under this chapter, or both, when the department receives satisfactory proof as may be necessary to determine that the vessel has been deleted from documentation in accordance with title 46, part 67, code of federal regulations, as amended.(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the numbering of any undocumented vessel hereunder upon request by the owner even though such vessel is exempt from the numbering requirements of this chapter. [Eff 2/24/94] (Auth: HRS § 200-24) (Imp: HRS §§ 200-24, 200-31)