Article 2.01 - Identification marks on vessels other than small craft and seagoing vessels

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1. Every vessel, except small craft and seagoing vessels, shall bear the following identification marks on its hull or on fixed boards or plates:

(a) Its name or emblem

The name shall be inscribed on both sides of the vessel, except for the pushed barges, it shall also be inscribed in a position visible from astern. If, in a side-by-side formation or pushed convoy, one or more of the inscriptions of the propelling vessel’s name are hidden, the name shall be reproduced on boards so placed as to be clearly visible from the directions from which those inscriptions are hidden. If the vessel has no name or emblem, it shall bear either the name (or its usual abbreviation) of the organization to which it belongs followed, where applicable, by a number, or the registration number followed, in order to show the country of the vessel’s home port or place of registry, by the letter or letters assigned to that country in annex 1 to these regulations.

(b) Its home port or place of registry

The name of the home port or place of registry shall be inscribed either on both sides of the vessel or on its stern and shall be followed by the letter or letters indicating the country of that home port or place of registry.

(c) Its official identification number

The official identification number shall be inscribed in accordance with the instructions given in point (a).

2. In addition, except for small craft,

(a) Every cargo vessel shall have its dead-weight tonnage inscribed on both sides, on the hull or on fixed boards;

(b) Every passenger vessel shall display the maximum permissible number of passengers in a conspicuous position on board.

3. The above-mentioned identification marks shall be inscribed in easily legible and indelible Latin characters, their inscription in oil paint being considered indelible. The height of the characters shall be not less than 20 cm for the name and not less than 15 cm for other marks. The width of the characters and the thickness of strokes shall be in proportion to the height. The characters shall be of a light colour against a dark background or vice versa.

4. As an exception to the preceding paragraphs, seagoing vessels may maintain their identification marks.

5. Crewed vessels under way by day shall fly their national flag at the stern. High-speed vessels may instead of the national flag display a board which matches the national flag in shape and colour.