If you are the happy owner of a United States Coast Guard vessel, you are probably aware that it must be recorded with the Maritime Documentation Center (MDC). But how do you document a boat? The Marine Data Center (MDC) is an online system that stores information on ships and their owners. Using this system, you may keep track of changes in ownership, liens, and other vessel-related information. The MDC will need you to provide some basic information about your boat and yourself to record it on the MDC properly. The procedures outlined here will guide you through the process of registering your boat with the MDC and providing suggestions on what to include in your application. Let’s get this party started.
Make Sure All Information Is Correct and Up-To-Date
In the past ten years, a significant improvement has occurred in the ease with which boats may be documented. It might be a little intimidating, particularly if you are going through this procedure for the first time. Check all of the information on a vessel before submitting it for paperwork to ensure it’s accurate and up to date. You’ll want to double-check the name, make, and model of your vessel, the owner’s address, phone number, email address, and the helmsman’s name and USCG paperwork number.
This covers, but is not limited to, the following items: Registration identification number, current owner’s name, last registered U.S. owner, year of construction, country of construction, original builder, marine surveyor and inspection agency, kind of vessel’s characteristics, registration identification number, engine hours displacement presently installed equipment, confirming current position, current location verification.
To Answer, “How Do You Document a Boat?” Ensure To Upload All Required Documents
The other step is to upload all required documents, including registration papers, insurance certificates, and proof of ownership. Pay online for your USCG paperwork after all relevant papers have been submitted. The Maritime Documentation Center (MDC) is where you need to go to document your USCG vessel’s registration. Filling out a ton of paperwork and providing a lot of evidence is required. You may find the procedure intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Still, the paperwork is a significant milestone that may offer a sense of security to the boat owner. The USCG acts as an unbiased third party, recording all genuine vessels when they provide you with paperwork. Even if you reside close to a coast guard station and sail in state waters, things change when you plan to sell your sailboat or go to foreign ports.
Immediately Report Any Changes in Ownership or Sale of Your Vessel
If you’re a ship owner, owning a boat is more difficult! No surprise, people battle to make sure every cent is accounted for, given the expensive prices of boats according to govinfo.gov. In order to guarantee that you receive what you paid for, documenting your yacht is essential. As a boat owner, a seizure or sinking of your vessel is one of the most expensive and frustrating events. The best way to prevent these scenarios is to record your boat correctly.
Having all the evidence you need in an incident will ensure that you can present it to the relevant authorities. There are, nevertheless, tens of thousands of unregistered boats throughout the world. You may run into difficulties while attempting to sell or acquire a yacht. Once the boat has crossed state boundaries, it must be registered again. Allow others to claim an unclaimed boat that is deemed abandoned. This may be avoided if you notify the appropriate authorities as soon as you sell or transfer your yacht ownership.
Pay The Appropriate Fees by Credit Card or Check
When formally documenting your watercraft, you may be astonished at how much it costs. Formally documenting a boat may be time-consuming and difficult to understand. Because of this, it is necessary to consult with an expert at the Maritime Documentation Center before beginning the procedure. You can make your life considerably simpler when getting your yacht recorded if you get the appropriate guidance and information ahead of time.
To submit a new application or file a transfer or ownership change, you must pay the applicable fees by credit card or cheque made payable to the United States Maritime Administration (U.S. Maritime Administration) (MARAD). In rare cases, the government may be willing to send you a refund check due to your actions. This signifies that all taxes have been paid and that there is no excise duty owing on the transaction.
Documenting a boat involves a few processes that are the same no matter where you reside in your country. To help you through the process, we’ve put up this step-by-step walkthrough on how you document a boat. We’re also here to assist you at any time, day or night, 365 days a year. Call us immediately at (800) 535-8570 if you’re interested in documenting a yacht with the Maritime Documentation Center.