---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 12303"
description: "Exemption from numbering requirements"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "123"
chapter_name: "NUMBERING UNDOCUMENTED VESSELS"
section: "12303"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 12303"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s12303"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "eb342b3e339bd972aeada8b614f7bb6c19ca0335021d19a56fc3d34dd30d05f2"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "5ce39cfd1606f16a94fa073f7aaea1a901af10899f2bf70591f2712b5fd7ca04"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 12303 - Exemption from numbering requirements

## Text

(a) When the Secretary is the authority issuing a number under this chapter, the Secretary may exempt a vessel or class of vessels from the numbering requirements of this chapter under conditions the Secretary may prescribe.

(b) When a State is the issuing authority, it may exempt from the numbering requirements of this chapter a vessel or class of vessels exempted under subsection (a) of this section or otherwise as permitted by the Secretary.

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 591.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1230346:1468 Section 12303 permits the Secretary and any State, when it is the issuing authority, to exempt vessels from the numbering requirements.