If you have a documented vessel, you have a documented vessel number. You may wonder why you would want to get your vessel documented and how the process would work. There are many benefits to getting your documented vessel numbers, but it’s not for everyone. Some vessels have to be documented, whereas others shouldn’t be…
Finding out the requirements to transfer the ownership of a vessel will prevent you from having many headaches if you are looking to buy a new boat and don’t want to make any mistakes. If you have a certificate of documentation, this is even more crucial, given that it comes from a federal body and…
A boat registration transfer in the United States might seem like a massive hassle if you’re the current owner. You only need a few essential pieces of paperwork to finish the procedure. The process of changing boat ownership requires the submission of specific documentation. Some of the most frequent forms of identification requested throughout the…
The boat documentation renewal process can seem daunting, but don’t be intimidated! The United States Coast Guard has put up a comprehensive manual containing all the information necessary to renew your boat’s registration. Some of it is essential information, while other parts of it can be completely unknown to even the most seasoned boat owners.…
Have you been thinking about getting your boat’s registration renewed but aren’t sure if it’s the right time? Do you feel like the boat registration renewal process is so, so much more challenging than it should be? If you’re a vessel owner who finds yourself procrastinating whenever it’s time to renew your registration, you certainly…
Once you have bought your boat, you need to think about how to register it with the US Coast Guard. Documenting the vessel with the agency can guarantee extra protections for your boat, including when you are in foreign ports or travelling in international waters. In order to register your boat, you may have gone…
The US Coast Guard takes its duty to protect Americans very seriously. Here at the Maritime Documentation Center, we talk often about the international protection provided by United States Coast Guard documentation. However, we also are inspired to share the Coast Guard’s tips for safe boating. One service administered by the Coast Guard is the…
If you are the happy owner of a United States Coast Guard vessel, you are probably aware that it must be recorded with the Maritime Documentation Center (MDC). But how do you document a boat? The Marine Data Center (MDC) is an online system that stores information on ships and their owners. Using this system,…
As you go about researching a vessel, does it feel like you can’t trust the information you’ve found about it? Have you been talking to someone about buying their vessel, yet everything they tell you seems “too good to be true?” When it comes to purchasing a vessel, you can’t be too careful. You want…
Do you know what you want to do with your new vessel, but aren’t certain how to make it in compliance with the Coast Guard? Are you completing your initial documentation and have gotten to part J. “Endorsements for Which Application is Made” and aren’t sure which to choose? These are common concerns that vessel…
Is it true that the Coast Guard provides a free vessel lookup service? Owners and watercraft fans may use this site to learn more about nearby USCG-licensed vessels. If you’re interested in learning more about the past of a particular boat or want to check if everything is up to date, this USCG vessel lookup…
Many commercial vessels are required to have US Coast Guard boat documentation. Typically, these are vessels measuring over 5 tons that deal in commerce or trade on the US coasts, the Great Lakes, US Fisheries, or other American or Exclusive Economic Zone navigable waters. However, plenty of other commercial, recreational, and pleasure vessels qualify but…
The winter months in the United States can be difficult for boaters. You may want to go out on your vessel as you did in the summer only for it to be too cold to do. Or, maybe you do go out on your vessel but you have to put on so many layers of…
Are you a boat owner with the US Coast Guard? If this is the case, you will want to educate yourself on the many advantages of the USCG registry. If you register your boat with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), you will be eligible for several excellent benefits that will make it much simpler…
The form CG 719s or plainly the application for a merchant mariner credential is a credential issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in accordance with guidelines of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers to United States seafarers in order to show evidence of a mariner’s qualifications. In…