USCGFinal Rule

Gulf of America Renaming

TransportationOther

Summary

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a rule to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This change affects how the federal government, maps, and official documents refer to this major body of water that borders the United States, Mexico, and other countries.

Key Points

  • 1The Gulf of Mexico will now be called the Gulf of America in all U.S. federal government communications and official maps
  • 2This change was issued by the U.S. Coast Guard on March 17, 2025, under docket USCG-2025-0186
  • 3The renaming affects navigation charts, maritime regulations, and other official Coast Guard materials
  • 4This is primarily a naming convention change for U.S. government use rather than a change to the physical location or governing laws of the water body
  • 5The rule went into effect after being published in the Federal Register

Impact Assessment

If you are a Transportation Company or Federal Agency, this means you must update maps, charts, navigation systems, and official documents to reflect the new name 'Gulf of America' instead of 'Gulf of Mexico'.

Impact Level
Routine
Geographic Scope

International

Compliance Cost

Minimal

Who is Affected
Transportation CompaniesFederal EmployeesState GovernmentsImporters/Exporters

Key Dates

Published

March 17, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.