SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN Decoder — MIC GSY
Hull Identification Numbers beginning with GSY were assigned by the US Coast Guard to SHIPS INTERNATIONAL of FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. The company is recorded as out of business since 2003 — common for older hulls, and useful to know when hunting parts or records. Enter the full 12-character HIN below for build date, model year, and serial — free, no account.
MIC
GSY
Location
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
In business
since 2001
Status
Out of business (2003)
SHIPS INTERNATIONAL hulls (2001–2003) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
How a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN breaks down
A current-format (1984–present) Hull Identification Number is 12 characters. Using the example GSY45678D424 (illustrative):
| Characters | Segment | In example | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Manufacturer (MIC) | GSY | Identifies SHIPS INTERNATIONAL, assigned by the US Coast Guard. |
| 4–8 | Hull serial number | 45678 | SHIPS INTERNATIONAL's own production number for the specific hull (the letters I, O, Q are never used). |
| 9 | Certification month | D | Month built — A=January … L=December (D = April). |
| 10 | Certification year | 4 | Last digit of the certification year. |
| 11–12 | Model year | 24 | The boat’s model year. |
Free · no account · the HIN is on the transom, upper starboard (right) corner
Buying this SHIPS INTERNATIONAL? Check it before you pay.
SHIPS INTERNATIONAL is recorded out of business (2003) — which affects recalls, parts support, and resale. The $9.99 Boat Report adds the full CPSC marine-recall check, a HIN consistency check, a verify-before-you-buy checklist, and the USCG builder record for this hull — one downloadable report, one-time, no subscription. See what's included
SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN FAQ
What does a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN look like?
It starts with the three characters "GSY" — the Manufacturer Identification Code the US Coast Guard assigned to SHIPS INTERNATIONAL — followed by a 5-character hull serial and a 4-character date code, 12 characters total. SHIPS INTERNATIONAL hulls (2001–2003) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits.
Is SHIPS INTERNATIONAL still in business?
USCG records list SHIPS INTERNATIONAL as out of business since 2003. That's common for older hulls — the HIN still decodes normally, and the out-of-business date helps date the boat and guides parts-hunting toward salvage and owner groups rather than a dealer network.
How do I decode the year on a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN?
On current-format HINs the last two characters are the model year and the 9th–10th encode the certification month and year. SHIPS INTERNATIONAL hulls (2001–2003) all use the current HIN format: a month letter (A=January…L=December), a certification-year digit, then two model-year digits. Enter the full 12-character HIN above and the decoder works it out, including the legacy formats.
Where is the HIN on a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL boat?
On the outside upper-starboard (right) corner of the transom, within two inches of the top — required by 33 CFR 181.29. Since August 1984 an identical duplicate HIN is also molded into an unexposed interior location as an anti-theft measure. Both should match the title, registration, and insurance card exactly.
Is the "GSY" MIC the same as a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL serial number?
No. "GSY" is the Manufacturer Identification Code — characters 1–3 of the HIN — that identifies SHIPS INTERNATIONAL. The hull serial number is characters 4–8: SHIPS INTERNATIONAL's own production number for that specific boat (the letters I, O, and Q are never used). The full 12-character HIN combines the MIC, the serial, and the date code.
Can a SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN tell me the exact model?
Not on its own. A HIN encodes the builder, hull serial, certification month/year, and model year — not the model name or length. Match the decoded year and serial against SHIPS INTERNATIONAL records, the title, or a marine survey to confirm the exact model and configuration.
Other builders in FL
Sources: verified against the USCG Manufacturer Identification Code database (refreshed monthly) · HIN format per 33 CFR Part 181, Subpart C. Reviewed by Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher, CarWhere. Cite this page: CarWhere, "SHIPS INTERNATIONAL HIN Decoder," carwhere.com/hin-decoder/gsy, last verified 2026-06-15.