Section 5 in The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Indian Fishing Boats) Rules, 1988
5. Official number.
(1)On scrutiny of an application under rule 3, if the registrar is satisfied about the nationality of the applicant and his title to the fishing boat, he shall assign to the fishing boat an official number from a consecutive series maintained at each port of registry preceded by 3 distinguishing letters indicating the port of registry notified under section 435D and 435E of the Act;(2)The official number once assigned to an Indian fishing boat shall not be changed except when the fishing boat is registered again at another port of registry, nor shall the official number be registered for another vessel.
