CFR > Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER S—BOATING SAFETY (parts 173 to 188) > PART 173—VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING > SUBPART A—General (§173.1 to §173.3) > 173.3—Definitions.

173.3—Definitions.

As used in this part:
(a) [Reserved]
(b) Issuing authority means a State that has a numbering system approved by the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard where a number system has not been approved. Issuing authorities are listed in appendix A of this part.
(c) Operator means the person who is in control or in charge of a vessel while it is in use.
(d) Owner means a person who claims lawful possession of a vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein which entitles him to such possession.
(e) Person means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of any of them.
(f) Reporting authority means a State that has a numbering system approved by the Coast Guard or the Coast Guard where a numbering system has not been approved. Reporting authorities are listed in appendix A of this part.
(g) State means a State of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia.
(h) State of principal use means the State on whose waters a vessel is used or to be used most during a calendar year.
(i) Use means operate, navigate, or employ.

Code of Federal Regulations

[CGD 72-54R, 37 FR 21399, Oct. 7, 1972, as amended by CGD 77-117A, 43 FR 17941, Apr. 27, 1978; CGD 89-048, 54 FR 2702, June 27, 1989; USCG-2008-0179, 73 FR 35024, June 19, 2008]