U.S. Coast Guard Update
HIN Policy & Floating Homes
Hull Identification Number (HIN) Policy
The U.S. Coast Guard is working with NASBLA’s Vessel Identification, Registration & Titling (VIRT) committee to draft and then disseminate to the states our Manufacturer's Identify Code (MIC) policy and our Hull Identification Number (HIN) policy. You should see that soon within the next few months!
Floating Homes
Additionally, the Coast Guard and VIRT are working towards creating a Houseboat v. Floating Home Quick Reference Card (QRC) for state registration and titling folks to use. This QRC will be based off the findings of the Supreme Court Ruling, Lozman v. Riviera Beach 2013.
Coast Guard Membership on VIRT
The Coast Guard currently has four members on the NASBLA Vessel Identification, Registration & Titling Committee (VIRT). Those members are Mr. Will Hillyer, Mrs. Kristin Williams, Mrs. Susan Weber, and CWO Timothy Rafter.
You learned about Mrs. Kristin Williams in our last newsletter, here is an introduction for Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Rafter.
Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Timothy Rafter reported to the Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch in August 2022 as their new Enforcement Officer. In his previous assignment he was the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter TERRELL HORNE in San Pedro, CA. CWO Rafter was raised in Maryland and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1999. He has served aboard four Coast Guard Cutters and four small boat units prior to his assignment to Coast Guard Headquarters. Throughout most of his career he conducted search and rescue and law enforcement missions, including counter drug operations in the Caribbean and South Pacific.
CWO Rafter is the primary point of contact for everything related to Manufacturer’s Identification Codes (MICs). This includes issuance and maintenance, such as the mandatory updating of contact information for the more than 4,300 active MIC holders. In addition, he recently took over as the primary point of contact for all HIN related matters. All questions sent to the Coast Guard regarding HINs will go to him for review. This makes him an excellent choice to represent the Coast Guard on the VIRT Committee.
CWO Rafter looks forward to working with the Boating Law Administrators and other state representatives to continue building a unified approach to vessel identification, registration, and titling practices.