The Secretary of Commerce has been authorized to provide a system of numbering all documented vessels. An application for such number must be made through the Collector of Customs by the master or owner. Each vessel so numbered must have her number "deeply carved or otherwise permanently marked on her mainbeam," preceded by the abbreviation "No."
Prior to 1866 the penalty for the violation of this requirement was the severe one of forfeiting her status as a vessel of the United States. To-day the penalty is a fine of $30 upon every arrival of the vessel in a port.
4. Marking of Official Tonnage.—
The law also requires that the net tonnage of a vessel shall be deeply carved or otherwise permanently marked on her mainbeam. This tonnage—representing the entire cubic contents of the interior of the vessel, excluding the spaces occupied by the crew and the propelling machinery, and known as the "registry tonnage" or "register tonnage"—is defined by elaborate provisions of a law passed in 1864, which has been several times amended. It is fixed in the first instance by the surveyor or other officer measuring the boat.
5. Marking of Name and Home Port.—
The law requires that the name of the vessel shall be marked upon each bow and upon the stern, and that the home port shall also be marked upon the stern. These names may be painted or gilded, or they may consist of cast or carved Roman letters in a dark color on a light ground, or in a light color on a dark ground, secure in place, distinctly visible, and not less in size than four inches. Originally the names of vessels were required to be in white on a black ground. In 1875 yellow and gilt letters were permitted. The rule as we now have it dates from 1891. The penalty for violation of this law is $10 for each name which is omitted.
In addition to this, every steam vessel of the United States is required to have her name conspicuously placed in distinct, plain letters not less than six inches high, on each outer side of the pilot house, and in case the vessel is a side-wheeler, then also upon the outer side of each wheel-house. "Double-enders" may place the names on the parts corresponding to the bow and stern; and on vessels whose sterns do not allow sufficient space for lettering, the letters may be placed on adjacent parts so as to conform as closely as possible to the requirements, and provided always that the home port shall be marked at one end of the vessel.
Scows, barges and other vessels with square bows may be marked on the bow instead of the side, where such marking would be speedily worn out by chafing against other vessels.
The "home port" as required to be marked on the stern of the vessel, may mean either the port where the vessel is documented, or the place in the same district where the vessel was built, or where one or more of the owners reside. From this it follows that the home port need not be the port of documentation, for, as already noted, the law is that the vessel must be registered in the district which includes the port to which the vessel at that time belongs, such port being defined by law as that at or nearest to which the owner, or if there be more than one, the managing owner of the vessel, usually resides.
Questions as to what is a vessel's "home port" frequently arise in connection with contracts for repairs and supplies and liens arising from the same. As will be seen the port of registry and the home port may often be quite different places.