What does a ship’s registration and lists indicate in Spain?

The registration number is an administrative identifier formed in consecutive order by a series of numbers and letters with which we can decipher to which registration list the ship corresponds, to which province or maritime captaincy it belongs, the maritime district and finally the folio or year of registration.

The number plate is always located on the ship’s tack, which is the part of the ship’s sides where they taper to form the bow (front of the ship). It must be displayed in large, clear letters and be at the maximum height, above the waterline, which is the line where the side of the boat crosses the surface of the water, separating the submerged part of the boat from the part that is not submerged. The registration plate must be visible at sea and in accordance with the size of the vessel.

In Spain, the registration of a vessel allows us to decipher the type of activity to which the vessel is dedicated, that is why 9 registration lists are established, each one for a group of vessels, depending on their activity. Therefore, the lists are linked to the type of activity in which the vessel is engaged.