As the owner of a USCG-documented vessel, you are probably aware that there are certain rules and regulations you need to follow. One of the most important of these rules is to keep your information up to date so that the United States Coast Guard is able to contact you whenever it is needed to. One of the details that need to be updated as well is the expiration date of the certificate of documentation that was issued to you the last time you registered your vessel federally. And that is done by renewing or reinstating the certificate according to the situation. Here’s a guide with everything you need to know about boat documentation renewal.
How Long Certificate of Documentation Are Valid for
There is one crucial point you need to consider when it comes to your boat documentation renewal, and that is the expiration date of your certificate of documentation. In the case of commercial vessels, this type of paperwork needs to be renewed yearly, while recreational boats that are USCG-documented, have to extend their registration every five years.
In the case you just found out how often recreational vessels need to renew their certificates, you are not alone. This is because the law has been changing lately: until 2019 boaters’ certificates of documentation had to be renewed yearly. Then, for two years, until the beginning of 2022, owners could choose to extend it for anything in between 1 and 5 years. From 2022, it is mandatory that these types of certificates are valid for 5 years.
This is the Perfect Time to Get your Boat Documentation Renewal
There is, however, an optimal period to submit your boat documentation renewal every time you need to. Even though you can renew your certificate at any time while it is still valid, and even up to 30 days after the expiration date, it is best if you do it 60 days prior to its expiry. This is because, if you do it before those 60 days, the expiration date will change, shortening the period your certificate was valid for. In addition to that, you can still renew it after the date has passed, but in this case, you would be needing to pay an extra late fee.
And what happens after those 30 days your certificate of documentation expires? Well, at that point, you need to go through an entirely different process. This type of application is called “reinstatement” and it returns your CoD to active status.
Renewal and Reinstatement Available at Our Site
The good news is that you do not have to take care of this by yourself: The Maritime Documentation Center has got your back. We are a private service that processes boat documentation renewal, and actually any other type of vessel paperwork, on your behalf. We allow commercial boat owners to automatically renew their certificate each year and our staff makes sure there are no mistakes on your application, among other tasks. If you want to know more about the subject, contact us today for any other information you may need. Our experienced representatives will be happy to assist you.