A USCG documentation is a requirement for vessels that engaged in certain trades. It can also serve as a proof of ship nationality. Plus, it enables the ship to be subject to Preferred Mortgages. However, the USCG does not provide certification to any ship. It requires the boat to be at least five net tons to…
Changing the boat name and hailing port is a cinch when you know where to go. If you own a boat, there’s a high chance you’ve thought of renaming it or altering the port from where it is hailed at least once. Then again, maybe you’ve already done it. Congratulations, if that’s the case since…
The benefits of documenting a vessel are many, although it may seem like an arduous task. It can be simplified with the help of vessel documentation services. If you are a new owner of a boat, you may be wondering if you have to document your vessel with the federal government. But first, read on to…
It goes without saying that when you are looking to sell your boat, a lot of paperwork will be involved. Selling can take some time, and it often entails getting the boat in the best condition possible and making sure you have everything in order before you can close a deal. Beyond creating a bill…
If you’re a commercial boat owner, you are required by federal law to maintain proper documentation on your vessel. If your USCG certificate documentation has expired, it’s time to renew. However, if you are already 30+ days past your maritime documents renewal date, you will need to complete a reinstatement in order to comply with…
If you’ve ever picked the name of a child or a pet, then you know how important it is to pick the right name. The stakes might be a bit lower for naming a boat, but you still want to get it right. You want to have a name that you’re fond of, that you…
One of the questions we get asked more often at the Maritime Documentation Center is what is US Coast Guard Documentation? For that reason, we have decided to create this article, to further explain what that means. Basically, a boat that was registered with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is referred to as a…
When you are the brand-new owner of a vessel, you will have two choices about how you record your boat in the eyes of the law. Firstly, you can document the boat with the state, which will ensure that you are taxed properly for use and ownership of the vessel, or you could submit an…
You may be new to boating and vessel ownership so understand the terminologies involved comes with a learning curve. Vessel ownership also involves a bit of paperwork filing and ensure that you are going about things in the proper legal manner. One of the first things to note is that if you own a vessel…
Of all of the different forms on our vessel documentation services site, the MARAD Waiver, or the MARAD Small Vessel Waiver Program, specifically, is one that we get the most questions about. To be clear, this is not a kind of vessel documentation that will apply to all that many boat owners. That being said,…
Do you have an interest in purchasing a recreational boat like a yacht for personal pleasure, or do you need a commercial vessel for your business? Buying a boat brand new off the showroom floor or right from the manufacturer is something that few people can afford to do when they get their first boat.…
There are several advantages to owning a Coast Guard-documented vessel, including lower liability and traveling more easily internationally. The question is, what does Coast Guard documented vessel mean?” As part of this essay, we’ll go through the fundamentals of USCG paperwork and explain how it may be beneficial to you and your vessel. If you’re…
Summer is here, and there may not be a better time for you to get your boat out on the water. Whether it is to take a day trip out for fishing or swimming, or to spend a few days sailing the seas and enjoying the weather as well as the sights, you need to…
If you don’t know what you’re doing, getting a MARAD waiver might be complicated. MARAD waivers enable some not qualified people under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 (known as the Jones Act) to receive a mariner’s license via a Maritime Administration (MARAD) waiver. One-stop shop for all things maritime: Merchant Mariner’s Authorization Database. Employers…
If you are looking into starting your own business that involves a boat, you will find that there are many regulations and rules you need to follow today. Starting a business is always quite an undertaking, but a business where a vessel is involved, either as a fishing vessel, for salvage, transportation or other venture,…