Maintaining a vessel in your ownership is an important and significant duty, especially if you don’t want to fall foul of any regulations stipulated by the United States Coast Guard as well as staying safe on the water. To demonstrate that your boat is operating according to legal requirements, it must be properly documented with the United States Coast Guard or state authorities.
Registering your boat results in the issue of a USCG Certificate which contains all the pertinent information about your vessel including its size, tonnage, and equipment.
Any vessel that is properly and officially registered is always going to be above board (pun intended!) and there are benefits too. Here are four reasons why you need to get Coast Guard vessel certification.
To Prove Ownership
Having vessel documentation is the easiest and most official way to prove your ownership in the event of something like an accident or a dispute. Having the correct documentation is highly recommended in places where issues like piracy and theft are sadly prominent, as you will be able to stake your claim and allow the relevant authorities to see that you are the rightful owner should any unfortunate situations arise.
For Insurance Claims
In the event that you need to make an insurance claim on your vessel, having the proper documentation is an essential part of the process. You will need the recommended paper trail to file the claim and be granted the compensation that you are seeking. It makes sense that if you cannot sufficiently prove your ownership of the vessel for which you are claiming insurance, then you face a tricky path.
Records For Tax Purposes
It is good practice to maintain the most accurate records possible, including everything from receipts to maintenance checks to any little fixes and alterations, and of course, your Coast Guard vessel certification. The more evidence you can provide that your vessel is in both good condition and in good hands, the cheaper your tax and insurance are likely to be, exactly in the same way as for road vehicles.
To Keep Track Of Modifications And Repairs
We have reference keeping track of every alteration and fix to your vessel above, and not only is it good for insurance and tax purposes, but it is also good for your own personal record keeping to know exactly the health and condition of your boat. The more records you have, the more relaxed you can be about your ownership.
If you would like to go through the process of Coast Guard vessel certification in as easy a way as possible, then the best thing to do is utilize the services of the Vessel Registrar Center. We take on the responsibility of error-checking, processing, and submitting your documentation so that you don’t have to worry about making sure that everything is going exactly where it needs to go. If you have any unanswered questions about our services, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of the team.