Knowing what is the appropriate ship documentation the law requires boat owners to possess is something you need to be aware of. Keeping your paperwork up to date can avoid you from paying expensive fines and help you to freely navigate with your vessel. If you want this to happen you need to stay current at all times. If you want to know more about the subject, read this article, where you will discover what paperwork is mandatory and when you need to renew them.
Proof of Ownership
As we said, it is important to make sure you have the necessary ship documentation and certifications. The first of those reasons is that if someone is injured on your boat, you will need evidence from your insurance company. If you are discovered driving without a license, you would also need to prove your registration to the authorities.
Furthermore, if you decide to travel internationally, USCG boat registration would allow law enforcement personnel to recognize your boat by its name and hailing port. If you are in your own state, the appropriate government authorities would identify the boat by its state registration numbers.
Boating Licenses
Other than the proof of ownership we just mentioned, it is always important to carry a certificate of inspection. People usually forget to make sure they have everything they need for the passengers of the boat to be safe, so this ship’s documentation is a must. Once the inspector has finished with your boat, he will determine if it complies with the necessary safety standards, and then issue the legal documentation that certifies this matter. This document will be evidence that the vessel has been registered and can be used on public waterways.
Last but not least most states will require you to obtain a certificate that habilitates you to navigate. Actually, 36 states have mandatory Boater Safety Education Programs and Personal Watercraft Operators programs. Even though it is a certificate and not a license, it works the same way as a car license. The way to obtain this certification, however, will vary from state to state.
All of Your Forms in One Place
As you can imagine, all of the ship documentation you can think of is easily accessible to you at the Maritime Documentation Center. We are a third-party agency that processes this type of documentation for you. Whether you are looking for a renewal, an initial, or even how to transfer your certificate of documentation, all of those forms are ready for you to process. Additionally, you will have someone from our experienced staff overlooking your submitted paperwork, in order, no mistakes are made. Furthermore, your details are kept confidential given that our platform is SSL-encrypted so your information stays with you. Contact us today and get your papers right!