When incurring a used boat transaction, perhaps it’s a good idea to do a fair amount of research. With the help of the Maritime Documentation Center, it is now possible to conduct a vessel search by owner name and learn everything there is to know about the vessel you intend to purchase. This article will help you understand how to do it and some of the basic documents you can also get on our site.
USCG Vessel Search By Owner Name
A few years ago, United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessel searches could only be done through telephone, fax, or email. Luckily for us, the US Coast Guard has improved its platform lately, and it is now possible to conduct this same search online. With our help, you can have the information you are looking for in a matter of minutes.
By conducting a vessel search by owner name, you can check if the boat you intend to buy has any unpaid environmental penalties or liens. There is only one more thing you should know: our USCG search technique is completely free!
We get the database straight from the source: The US Coast Guard has approximately 2.3 million registered in their database. Sometimes it takes time for it to be updated, so in those cases, you may check if the vessel can be found on their website instead. Keep in mind that the database can only be used by US individuals or boats registered in the United States.
How to Conduct the Vessel Search By Owner Name
At the Maritime Documentation Center bottom left side of the portal, you will find a button that says “Documented Vessel Search at Maritime Documentation Center”. Once you have pressed that button, you will be redirected to the portal, where you will find a brief explanation of how to look for the information.
There will be two empty boxes: one will ask for your Hull Identification Number (HIN) while the other will require you to provide your official number. In this box, you may provide the name of the vessel instead. Once you click the submit button, it will be a matter of minutes until you get an email with your test results.
Vessel Search at the Maritime Documentation Center
Having the required information can be highly beneficial for you. The Coast Guard, on the other hand, will use this information about your boat to keep track of it and determine if you comply with the current regulations. You will know what kind of propulsion system it has, who owned it before, when it was built, and if any known damage or concerns need to be addressed by the Coast Guard.
This is not, however, the only document you can obtain from our site. Notices of the claim of lien, MARAD small vessel waivers, and Certificate of documentation (COD) in all their forms: initial, reinstatement, renewal… are just some of the forms you can complete online on the Maritime Documentation Center. Just fill it up and we will soon get back to you with the official documentation. Let us know if there is anything we can assist you with!