Coast Guard (USCG), law enforcement personnel and the NICB to prevent, detect and report marine thefts and insurance fraud.īefore the creation of the database, law enforcement had to contact the particular boat manufacturer to verify watercraft information. But a newly-created database of vessel hull identification numbers (HIN) will enhance the efforts of the U.S. In turn, boat thieves often sell these stolen vessels to unsuspecting consumers for a large profit. Recent statistics reveal that each month more than 500 vessels are stolen in the United States costing boat owners and their insurers millions of dollars annually.
