Things to Consider about Vessel Documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver
Typically, commercial passenger vessels need to have been built in America in order to operate in U.S. waters. This tends to be a strictly enforced requirement, but should you own a vessel of foreign or unknown origin, there is a way for you to conduct commercial passenger operations with a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver. If your boat meets the eligibility requirements, you can apply for – and successfully attain – proper vessel documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver so that you can expand your maritime business.
Is Your Vessel Eligible?
Prior to seeking out appropriate vessel documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver, you want to be sure that you can satisfy the eligibility requirements. Firstly, your vessel must be at least three years old, and when in service, it must not carry more than twelve passengers. Also, it is critical that your commercial use is limited to passenger-based operations – fishing, carrying cargo, towing, and dredging are all forbidden under a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver. You must also be a U.S. citizen in order to apply for this documentation.
Applying for Your Waiver Online
While it is possible to apply for vessel documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver by mail, the paperwork can be long and arduous, so it isn’t recommended. For a nominal fee, it is possible to apply for your waiver online, and after doing a basic web search, you may learn that there are many services out there to assist you with this. When seeking out a vessel documentation assistance service, it might seem difficult to find the right one for you, so there are some factors to consider. You want to find a service, such as ours at Maritime Documentation Center, that assists with a range of documentation, so they know what they’re doing.
Let Maritime Documentation Center Assist with Filing
If you’ve done the research and have decided that vessel documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver is right for you, let Maritime Documentation Center assist with filing your application. We offer a simple online form that can save you the time and energy that would spent sending your application in by mail. Take a minute to explore our website, as we provide many other streamlined forms for obtaining various USCG certifications, so should your needs evolve, we can help you with that too.