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Fishing Boat Registration Letters & Numbers

Fishing boat registration

Author: FAFB

Date: 16th May 2025

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we are familiar with vehicle registraion the same applies to Vessels

We’re familiar with the concept of vehicle registration plates and the historical changes that reflect the age of the vehicle, including the change which occurred in 2001 which also added regional provenance. Laypeople may not be aware that the fishing industry also has its own registration system which identifies the port of origin of each vessel. It is the law in the United Kingdom (including Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) as well as some other European countries that commercial fishing boats are registered. Once registered, each boat is issued with a carving and marking note that must be, as the name would suggest, both carved and marked on the vessel.

British Isles & Ireland

This process is an official one and requires the boat to be measured by either an approved surveyor or the local coastguard depending upon the overall length of the vessel. The carving and marking note is valid for five years and, if you continue to fish for profit, must be renewed regularly.

Only boats that have been surveyed and conform to the latest (or prevailing if built before 2007) standards for safety and seaworthiness.

All of this compliance comes at a cost to the operators of a vessel but remain an important part of the strict procedures operated by the UK Government to keep standards as high as possible across the industry.

Knowing the registration letters of boats operating in the British Isles can give a quick glimpse of the demographic of vessels in any given port at any given Time.

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Scottish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

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English Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Welsh Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Northern Ireland Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Misc. British Isles Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Republic of Ireland Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Rest of Europe (Belgium to Denmark)

Belgian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Bulgarian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Danish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Rest of Europe (Faroe Islands to France)

#Faroese Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Finnish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#French Fishing Boat Registration Letters

Rest of Europe (Germany to Lithuania)

#German Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Icelandic Fishing Boat Registration Letters

#Latvian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

EE Engure LA Liepaja LU Lielupe LVL Liepaja LVR Riga LVV Ventspils MR Mersrags PO Pavisosta RA Roja RG Riga SE Skulte SG Salacgriva VP Ventspils

#Lithuanian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

KL Klaipeda LT-P- Klaipeda N Neringa

Rest of Europe (The Netherlands)

AK Andijk AL Ameland ALK Alkmaar AM Amsterdam ARM Arnemuiden AV Avenhorn AW Aengwirden BH Brouwershaven BR Breskens BRU Bruinisse BU Bunschoten BZ Bergen op Zoom CG Callantsoog CLN Clinge CP Colijnsplaat CZ Cadzand DD Dordrecht DV Deventer DW Doniawestal DZ Delfzijl EB Elburg EE Eenrum EG Egmond aan Zee EH Enkhuizen EWD Ellewoutsdijk EZ Ezinge FN Franeker GA Gaasterland GD s'-Gravendeel GG Geertruidenberg GM Genemuiden GO Goedereede GOE Goes GRA Grauw GRO Groningen GS Gasselte GT Grafhorst HA Harlingen HAL Halsteren HAS Hasselt HB Het Bildt HD Den Helder HI Hindelopen HK Harderwijk HL Hemellumer HN Hoorn HO Hoogeveen HOE Hoedekenskerke HOK Hoek HON Hontenisse HP Hoofdplaat HR Herkingen HS Haamstede HT Heenvliet HV Hellevoetsluis HVH Hoek van Holland HVL Hoogvliet HW Hoogwoud HZ Huizen IL Ilpendam IJM Ijmuiden KB Krabbendijke KD Kattendijke KE Kerkwerve KH Kolhorn KK Koudekerke KL Klundert KN Kruiningen KO Koog aan der Zaan KP Kampen KU Kuinre KW Katwijk LE Lemsterland LM Landsmeer LP Loppersum LS Leens LW Leewarden MA Maassluis ME Medemblik MG Middelburg MK Marken ML Maasland MO Monnikendam MP Meppel MU Muiden NB Nieuw Beierland ND Nieuwe Niedorp NI Nieuwendam NK Nijkerk NTO Nieuwe Tonge NV Nieuw Vossemeer NW Noordwijk NZ Terneuzen OD Ouddrop OBD Oudenbosch OH Oosthuizen OK Ouwerkerk OL Oostdongeradel OO Oosterland OS Ossenisse OV Oud Vossemeer OWS O & W Souburg OZ Oostzaan PI Philippine PM Purmerend PR Pernis PS Sint Philipsind PU Putten PV Poortvliet RD Ransdorp RL Rilland RO Rotterdam RP de Rijp SAL Sint Annaland SCH Scheveningen SDM Schiedam SH Schellinkhout SI Scherpenisse SL Stellendam SLO Sloten Friesland SMA Smallingerland SMD St. Maartensdijk SMI Smilde SNE Sneek SP Spaarndam SRN Schermernorn ST Stavoren STL Schoterland STO Stoppeldijk SV Stavenisse SVG Sas van Gent TB Ten Boer TD Tietjerksteradeel TH Tholen TM Termunten TR Terschelling TX Texel UD Utingeradeel UK Urk UQ Usquert V Veen VD Volendam VE Veere VH Venhuizen VL Vlaardingen VLI Vlissingen VN Vollenhove WAN Wanneperveen WAR Warder WB Wijmbritseradeel WDN Wijdenes WF Werveshoof WFD Wolfartskijk WIN Winkel WK Workum WL Westdongeradeel WM Willemstad WMD Wemeldinge WMH Warmenhuizen WOE Woensdrecht WON Wonseradeel WR Wieringen WRW Wieringerwaard WSW Westerschouwen WU Wilsum WV Wildervank WW Weststellingwerf YE Yerseke YT Yist YM Ymuiden ZA Zaabdam ZD Zuidwolde ZE Zwolle ZIJ Zijpe ZK Zoutkamp ZL Zwaluwe ZO Zoutelande ZS Zwartsluis ZU Zuid Scharwoude ZV Zandvoort ZVC Zalk en Veecaten ZW Zwartewaal ZZ Zierikzee

Rest of Europe (Norway to Portugal)

#Norwegian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

A Akershus AA Aust - Agder BD Buskerud F Finnmark H Hordaland M Mor og Romsdal N Nordland NT Nord-Trondelag O Oslo Ø Ostfold R Rogaland SF Sogn og Fjordane ST Sor-Trondelag T Troms TK Telemark V Vestfold VA Vest - Agder

#Polish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

CHA Chalupy CHY Chlopy DAB Dabie DAR Darlowo DBK Dabki DEB Debki DWI Dzwirzyno DZI Dziwnow FRO Frombork GDA Gdansk GDY Gdynia HEL Hel JAN Jantar JAR Jaroslawiec JAS Jastarnia JEL Jelitkowo KAM Kamien Pomorski KAT Katy Rybackie KMN Kamienica Elblaska KOL Kolobrzeg KRM Krynica Morska KRS Karsibor KUZ Kuznica LBN Lubin LEB Leba MEC Mechelinki MIK Mikoszewo MIW Miedzywodzie MIZ Miedzyzdroje MRZ Mrzezyno NIE Niechorze OBL Obluze OKS Oksywie ORL Orlowo PAS Nowa Pasleka PIA Piaski PRZ Przytor PUC Puck REW Rewa ROW Rowy RWL Rewal SOP Sopot STE Stegna STL Stolczyn STP Stepnica SUC Suchacz SWA Swarzewo SWB Swibno SWI Swinoujscie SZN Szczecin SZT Sztutowo TOL Tolkmicko TRB Trzebiez UNI Uniesty USM Ustronie Morskie UST Ustka WAR Nowe Warpno WLA Wladyslowowo WOL Wolin WSG Gorki Wschodnie ZAG Gorki Zachodnie

#Portugese Fishing Boat Registration Letters

AH Angra do Heroismo AL Albufeira AN Ancora AV Aveiro BR Barreiro CM Caminha CS Cascais E Ericeira ER Ericeira ES Esposende FF Figueria da Foz FR Faro FZ Fuzeta L Lisbon LE Leixoes LG Lagos LX Lisbon N Nazare NZ Nazare O Olhao OL Olhao PE Peniche PM Portimao PS Porto Santo PT Douro PV Povoa de Varzim Q Quarteira QT Quarteira RE Regua RG Ribeira Grande SA Sagres SB Sesimbra SE Setubal SM Sao Martinho do Porto SN Sines T Tavira TR Trafaria TV Tavira VC Vila do Conde VF Vila Franca do Campo VI Viana do Castelo VV Vila Praia da Vitoria VX Vila Franca de Xira

Rest of Europe (Romania to Sweden)

#Romanian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

CT Constanta HR Harsova MG Mangalia MM Mamaia SL Sulina TL Tulcea TO Tomis

#Slovenian Fishing Boat Registration Letters

IZ Izola KP Koper PI Piran

#Spanish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

AL Algeciras AM Almeria AT Alicante BA Barcelona BI Bilbao CA Cadiz CO Coruna CP Castellon CT Cartagena FE Ferrol GC Gran Canaria GI Gijon HU Huelva IB Ibiza LU Lugo M Melilla MA Malaga MH Menorca PM Mallorca RE Region Ecuatorial SE Sevilla SS San Sebastian ST Santander TA Tarragona TE Tenerife VA Valencia VC Sahara Espanol VI Vigo VILL Villagarcia

#Swedish Fishing Boat Registration Letters

AS Ahus CN Cimbrishamn FG Falkenberg GE Gefle GG Goteborg HA Haparanda HD Halmstad HG Helsingborg HL Hudiksvall HND Harnosand KA Karlskrona KD Kristianstad KN Karlshamn KR Kalmar LA Landskrona LA Lulea LL Lysekil LNG Linkoping MD Marstrand MM Mom MO Malmo NG Nykoping NKG Norrkoping OK Ornskoldsvik ON Oskarshamn PA Pitea RY Rannsby SA Skelleftea SB Sodertelje SD Stromstad SE Sodertetje SG Solveborg SL Sundsvall SM Stockholm SN Soderhamn TG Trelleborg U Umea UA Uddevalla UM Umea UPA Upsala VK Vostervik VS Visby WG Warberg YD Ystad