Section 8 in The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Indian Fishing Boats) Rules, 1988
8. Manner of painting of name and official number, etc. on Fishing boat.
(1)The distinguishing letters indicating the port of registry, the name of the fishing boat by which it is registered and the official number assigned to it under rule 5, shall be painted in English, in regional language and in Hindi Alphabet in white oil colour against a black background on both quarters of the fishing boat near the stern.(2)All the letters and figures painted shall be of such size as the registrar may determine in each case but shall not be less than one decimetre in height and two centimetres in width.(3)The letters and figures referred to in this rule shall also be painted on the dinghies attached to the fishing boat.
