View source for Ship identifier

{{Redirect|Ship naming|the ceremony during which a ship is christened with its name|Ceremonial ship launching}}
{{Redirect|Ship name|the relationship naming practice|Name blending|and|Shipping (fandom)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}

<!-- NOTE: "Ship name", "Ship names", "Ship naming", "Ship number", "Vessel identifier", and "Vessel number" redirect to this page. -->
[[File:Stern view of the Talisman.jpg|thumb|Stern of the Belgian vessel ''Talisman'' displaying its ENI number: ''06105000'']]
[[File:USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) approach.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Arleigh Burke}} displays hull number 51]]
A '''ship identifier''' refers to one of several types of [[identifier]]s used for maritime vessels. An identifier may be a proper noun (''[[Niña (ship)|La Niña]]''); a proper noun combined with a standardized prefix based on the type of ship (e.g. {{RMS|Titanic}}); a [[serial code]]; a unique, alphanumeric ID (e.g. A123B456C7); or an alphanumeric ID displayed in [[international Code of Signals|international signal flags]] (e.g. {{ICS|Uniform}}{{ICS|Pennant Six}}{{ICS|Charlie}}{{ICS|Hotel}}, representing U6CH). Some identifiers are permanent for a ship while others may be changed at the owners' discretion although regulatory agencies will need to approve the change. Modern ships usually have several identifiers.

In addition to proper nouns, types of ship identifiers include:
*'''[[Code letters]]''' – an identifier for a ship that is displayed on vessels by ICS flags representing the letters of the alphabet and numbers 0–9, e.g. the flags {{ICS|Uniform}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Whiskey}} (from top to bottom) represented the identifier "USMW"
*'''[[Hull number]]''' or '''Hull Identification Number''' (HIN) – a number used as an identifier for civilian and naval vessels, national/regional subtypes include:
**'''[[Craft Identification Number]]''' – a permanent unique fourteen-digit alphanumeric identifier issued to all marine vessels in Europe
**'''[[ENI number]]''' (''European Number of Identification'' or ''European Vessel Identification Number'') – a unique, eight-digit identifier for ships capable of navigating on inland European waters that is attached to a hull for its entire lifetime, independent of the vessel's current name or flag
**'''[[Naval Registry Identification Number]]''' – United States until 1920s, replaced by hull classification symbol system
*'''[[IMO number]]''' – a unique identifier issued by the [[International Maritime Organization]]&nbsp;(IMO) for ships
*'''[[Maritime call sign]]''' – an identifier used during radio transmissions, used mainly during verbal transmissions and sometimes incorporating a vessel's MMSI
*'''[[Maritime Mobile Service Identity]]''' (MMSI) – a unique, nine-digit identifier used over radio frequencies to identify a vessel, used mainly for automated, non-verbal transmissions
*'''[[Official number]]''' – a ship identifier number assigned to merchant ships by their country of registration, this system has been superseded by the IMO number system
*'''Ship name''' – a proper noun chosen at the shipowner's discretion; may change several times during the vessel's lifetime
**'''[[Ship class]]''' – a common name for a group of ships with similar design, usually named for the first vessel of the class, e.g. "''Nimitz''-class aircraft carrier"
*'''[[Ship prefix]]''' – a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name or hull number of a civilian or naval ship, e.g. "HMS", "MV", "RV", "SS", or "USS"; naval prefix systems include:
**'''[[Hull classification symbol]]''' ([[List of hull classifications|List of U.S. hull classifications]]) – United States since 1920s, replaced the Naval Registry Identification Number system
**'''[[Hull classification symbol (Canada)]]'''
**'''[[Pennant number]]''' – United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries
**'''Tactical number''' - a number painted on the hull of a military ship, for identification either during combat or peacetime.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lindemann |first1=Klaus |title=Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon, Second Edition: Operations Against Truk by Carrier Task Force 58, 17 and 18 February 1944, and the Shipwrecks of World War II |date=1 September 2005 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-59752-347-9 |page=165 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AG9LAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA165 |access-date=23 May 2022 |language=en |quote=the number on the bow is the tactical number of the Destroyer Squadron, not the ship's number}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Koop |first1=Gerhard |last2=Schmolke |first2=Klaus-Peter |title=German Destroyers of World War II: Warships of the Kriegsmarine |date=22 July 2014 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-84832-193-9 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYzPBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |access-date=23 May 2022 |language=en |quote=In peacetime destroyers displayed a large whitepainted tactical number on both sides of the hull below the bridge. The first numeral indicated the division and the second the tactical position of the ship within it.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jordan |first1=John |last2=Moulin |first2=Jean |title=French Destroyers: Torpilleurs d'Escadre & Contre-Torpilleurs, 1922–1956 |date=22 June 2015 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-84832-359-9 |page=531 (Appendix C) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EmxhCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT531 |access-date=23 May 2022 |language=en |quote=she was allocated the pendant number H02, but this was not painted on the hull and the ship's boats retained the French tactical number X83}}</ref>
*'''Sail number''' - unique identifiers used especially for racing yachts but also windsurfers, and displayed on the sail to assist with [[search and rescue]] operations. The [[list of sail codes|sail code]] prefixes are mandated by [[World Sailing]]. In some countries, out of sequence numbers akin to [[vanity plate]]s can be purchased, although the registered number remains with the vessel on sale.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sail Numbers |url=https://www.rya.org.uk/racing/technical/sail-numbers |website=www.rya.org.uk |publisher=Royal Yachting Association |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sail Numbers |url=https://www.sailingresources.org.au/class-assoc/sail-numbers/ |website=www.sailingresources.org.au |publisher=Australian Sailing |access-date=23 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Ship names]]
[[Category:Ship identification numbers]]
[[Category:Identifiers]]