Essential requirement:
Each craft shall be marked with an identification number including the following information:

- manufacturer's code,
- country of manufacture,
- unique serial number,
- year of production,
- model year.

The relevant harmonized standard gives details of these requirements.

Harmonized standard:
• EN ISO 10087:2006 Small craft - Craft identification - Coding system

Location: The CIN shall be located on the starboard side of the transom, within 50 mm of the transom top.

Duplicate CIN: A duplicate CIN shall be affixed to a non-removable part of the craft in a hidden location only known by the manufacturer. The duplicate CIN shall be located in the interior or beneath a fitting or item of hardware. The CIN should be located so that it is extremely difficult to reach and modify.

CIN example:

Manufacturer’s identification: Code is assigned by a national authority or recognized organization. Contact your national boat builder association for more information.

Serial number: Free to be chosen by the manufacturer. You may use numerals and/or letters. It is not allowed to use the letters I, O and Q.

Month of manufacture: Shall be coded like A for January, B for February, C for March, etc.

Year of manufacture: Identified by the last numeral of the production year.

The model year is a twelve-month period during which the craft is intended to be placed for the first time on the market and shall be identified by the last two numerals of the year in question. If this twelve-month period extends across two calendar years, the manufacturer decides which of these is the model year.

Note: The model year is different for each build craft and is NOT the introduction year of the model.

List of notified bodies

Builder's plate & CIN code drawing