It is mandatory for individuals who own boats in the United States to register their boats with the U.S. Coast Guard. Most boat owners must comply with this registration procedure; however, there are a few exemptions. Registering your boat with the Coast Guard is required for legal and safety reasons for several different reasons. Every person who owns a boat in the United States needs to be familiar with C.G., the Coast Guard database of boats, and the people who own them. Knowing its purpose and the benefits that come with signing up will help you make up your mind about whether or not to do so. Here are some of the reasons why all owners of USCG vessels need to have their boats registered with the Coast Guard:
Registration Is Mandatory For Certain Vessels
It should be no surprise that the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) supervises all waterborne traffic, including recreational boats, given its position under the Department of Homeland Security. Owners of boats must register them with the U.S. Coast Guard and renew their registrations every five years. Although some jurisdictions provide an online option, registration must be done in person at a Coast Guard location. Signing up with the U.S. The Coast Guard does more than permit you to use your boat on public waterways.
Every time you renew your registration, you’ll get a new sticker that shows the amount of time that has passed since your previous renewal. This helps law enforcement personnel quickly determine who has been legally registered and who has not. If a federal agent stops you while you’re sailing an unregistered watercraft and you fail to renew your registration within five years, the agent may take your boat until you do so.
U.S. Coast Guard Can Provide Crucial Information in Emergencies
Properly registering your boat with the Coast Guard might be crucial in a crisis. First, C.G. operators have received extensive training and are always prepared to aid in an emergency. When calamity occurs, they may also supply crucial information. For example, they may provide local weather forecasts and talk about the most recent storms as they happen. In addition, the legislation mandates USCG registration for any ship over five gross tons. The same is true for business ships. As soon as you register your boat, you’ll get a registration certificate and a license plate with your registration number. If your boat sinks or causes the sinking of another vessel, rescuers will need to know who owns it and where it is registered to find its owner. This certificate or license has to be on hand at all times.
If You Have a Loan on Your Vessel, the Registration Document Will Support A Claim Against It as Collateral
If a buyer needs a loan to pay for your yacht, they may use the registration certificate as collateral. You should check the USCG’s internet database to see whether a previously owned vessel has been registered before purchasing it. The Coast Guard does not have the workforce or resources to monitor all boats in U.S. waters. They will need to know where to find you and how to contact you in an emergency. Ensure to inform them of your vessel. You don’t want to be the one who creates trouble because they didn’t seek aid while someone was drowning in front of them or who caused an accident because they didn’t react to a signal. You may increase your safety and security by letting people know what your vessel looks like before they need to see it in an emergency, and you can do both by registering your vessel with the Coast Guard.
C.G. Can Help You Recover Your Boat If it’s Lost or Stolen
Even without a USCG sticker, navigating and cruising the American coastline is possible. The C.G. can assist in the recovery of a vessel that has been misplaced or stolen. If another citizen discovers it, they may turn it into C.G., who will search for you. Because of the registration, if someone finds your boat and decides to retain it, they will have to return it to you immediately. No one will stop trying to steal your boat, even if you don’t want to register it for fear of losing it. An essential safety safeguard, a C.G. decal follows a boat wherever it goes, even if you sell it. Doing so lets everyone who comes across your boat know who the owner is and who they may reach out to in an emergency.
The Maritime Documentation Center offers online registration to register your boat with the Coast Guard. All you have to do is fill out some brief information online and pay the fee, then wait for your certificate of documentation to arrive in the mail within 5–6 weeks. Registering online will save you time, so instead of having to call the Maritime Documentation Center and wait on hold, you can be done with your registration in minutes! Contact us at 800-535-8570 to learn more about how we can help make registering your boat easy and affordable.