If you own a recreational boat over five net tons, you may be required to obtain US Coast Guard documentation. This is also true if you plan to operate your boat on federal waters.
Documentation is a national form of vessel titling that offers benefits not available under state registration. It also helps facilitate your ocean travel to foreign territories.
Requirements for Documentation
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) operates a nationwide vessel documentation program. Its primary function is to establish a vessel’s chain of ownership and federally register it under its legal title.
In addition, vessel documentation serves to document vessels’ nationality and qualifications to be employed in specified trades, such as fisheries or coastwise service.
Vessels that are qualified to engage in specified trades must be marked by an official vessel number permanently affixed into the interior of the vessel. They must also have a clearly readable display identifying their name and hailing port on the hull or some interior integral structure.
In addition, the owner of a documented vessel must present competent and persuasive evidence of the citizenship of each entity in its chain of title. This is especially important when a change in ownership occurs. Typically, this evidence is the builder’s certification, manufacturer’s statement of origin or other proof of title.
Documentation Requirements
Documentation is the process of uscg documentation search to federally register your vessel. The Coast Guard issues an official number that is permanently marked into the interior of your boat, along with a name and hailing port.
USCG documentation is required for all vessels that measure at least 5 net tons, are owned entirely by a citizen or citizens of the United States, and engage in fisheries or coastwise trade on the navigable waters of the U.S or in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Non-self-propelled vessels used in coastwise trade within a harbor, on rivers or lakes, except the Great Lakes, or in internal waters or canals of any state are exempt from the requirement to be documented.
Vessels are documented with endorsements, which describe the intended uses of the vessel. The most common endorsements are fishery, coastwise, registry and recreation.
Documentation Fees
Whether you’re purchasing or owning a vessel, you’ll want to know about the documentation fees associated with the USCG Vessel Documentation Program. These fees include initial filings, re-documentation and exchange of Certificates of Documentation.
The USCG requires vessel documentation for any United States vessel measuring at least 5 net tons owned entirely by a U.S. citizen, used in coastwise trade or fishing activities on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is the area of ocean surrounding the United States up to 200 miles offshore.
The company, US Vessel Documentation, has been sending letters to boat owners across the country urging them to renew their vessel registration. According to Charles Fort, director of consumer protection at the Boat Owners Association of the United States, the letters appear to be from the Coast Guard, but it’s actually a private service. They charge three times the cost of the Coast Guard’s one-year renewal fee.
Documentation Renewals
The USCG Vessel Documentation Program includes a documentation renewal process. This is a two-phase process, in which the Government initiates the renewal request as a courtesy to vessel owners and then processes it to issue certificates of documentation (CODs).
The first phase of this process involves initiating a renewal request by sending CG-1280 Vessel Renewal Notification Application for Renewal mailers to vessel owners approximately 45 days prior to their current CODs expiring.
According to subject matter experts (SMEs), it takes a GS-5 employee 9 minutes to process a renewal application, and a GS-7 employee 1 minute to approve a renewal request.
The second phase of the process consists of a vessel owner applying to renew each endorsement by executing an original CG-1280 form certifying that the information contained in the Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remains accurate, and that the Certificate has not been lost or mutilated. The completed CG-1280 must be submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
