As the owner of a USCG boat, you must be familiar with Coast Guard boat requirements that must be adhered to maintain your vessel in compliance with the federal government’s restrictions. Following the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, the United States Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing several maritime safety laws, such as licensing and…
Do you have your eye on that boat you saw down at the marina with the “For Sale” sign on it? Maybe you saw one listed on a local community website or online elsewhere and it seems to be just what you have been looking for. Deciding you want to buy a boat can be…
Don’t you know where to start with your United States Coast Guard (USCG) Certificate of Documentation? Have you noticed how hard it is to find a site that easily explains what you should do to get or even how to process it online? That is the reason behind the creation of the Maritime Documentation Center:…
State titling and USCG documentation are the two effective alternatives for titling your yacht. There are some similarities between the two, but there are also some important distinctions that you should be aware of before making a choice. However, even though the process of state titling is often more accessible and less costly than obtaining…
When you are the owner of a new vessel, you might want to know more about its history and previous owners. In order to do this, it is important that you understand exactly what is a documented vessel, what such a document can tell you about your boat, and what it means for you as…
It is now possible for USCG vessel owners who need to search a particular vessel by HIN and Official Number to do so via our search USCG Free portal or a the National Vessel Documentation Center’s (USCG DATABASE – NVDC) website. Additionally to the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and Official Number, this new feature enables…