Hull Serial Number (HIN)

Every vessel built or imported for sale in Canada must be marked with a Hull Serial Number (HIN) in accordance with the Small Vessel Regulations (Part 9).

The Hull Serial Number (HIN) provides a uniform method for identifying:

• any specific vessel;
• the construction standards that apply to that specific vessel;
• vessels subject to a manufacturer's defect recall; and
• a lost or stolen vessel.

The HIN shall be located where it is clearly visible when the vessel is in the water, namely, on the upper starboard quarter of the outside surface of the transom or if the vessel has no transom, on the uppermost starboard side at the aft end of the hull.

The HIN must also be marked in a second location on the hull, that is either beneath a fitting or an item of hardware or that is on the interior of the vessel and unexposed.

The Hull Serial Number (HIN) consists of 12 consecutive characters and an optional two character country code prefix separated by a dash, as shown in the table below:

Country Code (Optional)	Manufacturer's Identification Code	Manufacturer's Serial Number	Commencement of Construction	Model Year
CA	ABC	2AB41	G0	91

The above HIN will be marked on the hull as CA-ABC2AG091. More information on the HIN is available in section 1 of the Construction Standards for Small Vessels, TP 1332.

If you are a manufacturer based in Canada or import vessels manufactured anywhere other than the U.S. you must have a Manufacturer’s Identification Code (MIC), the first 3 characters of the HIN, obtained from Transport Canada. A MIC issued by the United States Coast Guard to U.S. manufacturers is recognized in Canada by reciprocal agreement.

To get a MIC, fill out and send a Request for a Manufacturer Identification Code (form no. 80-0008), to:

Transport Canada, Marine Safety (AMSRA)
Tower C, Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N8

A Canadian importer may request to use the MIC assigned to the manufacturer in its country of origin if that code is 3 letters, as required in Canada. To make your request, you must confirm on the Request for a Manufacturer Identification Code form that you have an agreement with the foreign manufacturer for exclusive use of the manufacturer’s MIC in Canada. Provide details of the manufacturer and the MIC. By making this request, you acknowledge that you will be responsible for all vessels imported to Canada and marked with a Hull Serial Number (HIN) using this MIC.