If you are about to get yourself in the middle of a sell-buy transaction, learning how to write an appropriate boat bill of sale is definitely something you must know how to do. Legally, this document is used to transfer ownership from one party to another. In a way, it is similar to getting a…
Have you been wondering if your vessel requires a Certificate of Documentation? Are you unsure what exactly is the correct documentation for your vessel? We are here to help. The Maritime Documentation Center has helped countless vessel owners to determine which forms of documentation are right for their vessel and their situation. Now, we can…
Did you know that the MDC provides quick lookups of USCG vessels that may be done online? Our objective is to provide information that assists boat owners in complying with maritime legislation more readily available to them. The Marine Department of Conservation (MDC) offers a convenient online USCG vessel lookup that will inform you of…
It is essential for a person who owns a boat in the United States to be current on the most recent modifications that have been made to the USCG vessel renewal process. Recently, the Coast Guard announced that there would be some significant changes in 2022, and unfortunately, those changes will not be beneficial for…
Owning a boat is something special, and it gives you the chance to enjoy travel, leisure, and vacations in a way that you may never have been able to do before. While some boat owners make their first purchase by getting a vessel from a broker or previous owner, there are others that go the…
Being out on a boat is special. Whether it’s your first time on the water, or you’ve been on yachts your entire life, there’s nothing quite like it. The rush of the wind in your hair, the sun warm on your face, the waves beside your boat – it’s a genuinely unique experience. You can…
Are you finally ready to take your vessel out on the water this spring, but want to make sure that everything is safe? Has the weather gotten warm enough to the point where it’s time to get your vessel out of storage? There is nothing, nothing like taking your boat out after it’s been locked…
If you are the owner of a vessel registered with the US Coast Guard, you know it will soon be time to renew the boat registration. But were you aware there are methods to keep your costs down and not overpay? You may save some money for yourself if you take advantage of early bird…
If you want to buy or sell a vessel, you will need to make the transfer of ownership clear to the US Coast Guard’s documentation center. This group keep all of the details of any US vessel, and any commercial or larger vessels need to be registered with the Coast Guard in order to be…
The Preferred Ship Mortgage provides a lender or financier of a vessel competitive status among competing claims that might arise against a vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard acts principally as a recording agency in regard to mortgages and related instruments. It’s important to learn about it if you happen to finance someone’s ship after he/she…
The NVDC requires all vessel owners, whether they’re commercial or recreational, to obtain vessel documentation and keep it up-to-date. The entity hasn’t had any trouble processing commercial vessel documents in time. However, since late last year, the entity had experienced an unprecedented backlog with recreational vessels documentation. This makes sense if we think that…
As a boat owner or even enthusiast, you might have heard at some point the words “hailing port”. Even if you did not, you might have noticed several boats with a name on both the hull sides or the transom. If you looked for long enough, there is a chance you also observed what we…
As wonderful it would be to go through life without having to deal with a mountain of paperwork, things just are not that easy. It seems like everything you do today comes along with pages you must fill out and submit. Everything from applying for a new driver’s license to a gym membership to even…
Have you been looking for more information about a vessel but aren’t sure where to turn? Has an internet search come up empty in terms of the data you need? When it comes to researching vessels, you want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Here at the Maritime Documentation…
Getting your initial documentation for your vessel isn’t easy. Then, you have to renew coast guard documentation, which can be even more difficult. As vessel owners ourselves, we always thought that was too much trouble for one person to have to deal with. If you have a vessel and have to deal with vessel documentation,…