Federal numbering system adopted.

(1) The vessel registration number issued shall be of the pattern prescribed by regulations of the United States Coast Guard and shall be divided into parts. The first part shall consist of the symbols identifying the state followed by a combination of numerals and letters which furnish individual vessel identification. The group of digits appearing between letters shall be separated from those letters by hyphens or equivalent spaces.

(2) The first part of the number shall be a symbol indicating Florida which shall be FL.

(3) The remainder of the vessel number shall consist of not more than four Arabic numerals and two capital letters or not more than three Arabic numerals and three capital letters, in sequence, separated by a hyphen or equivalent space, in accordance with the serials, numerically and alphabetically.

(4) Since the letters I, O, and Q may be mistaken for Arabic numerals, all letter sequences using I, O, and Q shall be omitted. Objectionable words formed by the use of two or three letters shall not be used.