Vancouver – The U.S. Coast Guard is enforcing a new federal standard for Hull Identification Numbers on marine vessels. Roughly 19,000 Washington residents could be affected.
According to a news release, the majority of vessel HIN numbers registered in the state comply with the new standards. For those that do not, the owner should have been notified via a Department of Licensing letter sent in March. Letter recipients will not be able to register, renew or title a vessel until the HIN is updated as the letter describes. Vessel owners who weren’t notified by mail can renew as usual.
The noncompliant HIN can’t be renewed online. Instead, owners must visit a vehicle licensing office to get a new Certificate of Ownership and HIN that meets new standards. No titling fee will be applied if the transaction is just for the HIN.
For more information or to find a licensing office, visit the Department of Licensing website at www.dol.wa.gov. Alternatively, the department can be contacted at Department of Licensing website at 360-902-3770, CustomerCare@dol.wa.gov.
