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: we wanted to have a site to handle the boating documentation with you, along with an easy-to-use platform and clear information about the documentation you can get. This article in particular will talk about the certificate of documentation, so read on and find out everything you need to know about it!
The Initial Certificate of Documentation
In just a few minutes, you will be able to complete and send your vessel documentation information. The form you complete will depend on the certificate of documentation you are trying to get. For instance, if it is the first time you get it, you will need to fill out the “Initial” form. Keep in mind that only vessels that weigh at least 5 net tons and are fully owned by an American Citizen will be able to get USCG documentation. Additionally, vessels used commercially will need to get this mandatorily.
Another clarification: the certificate of documentation is an “acknowledgment” paper you get once your USCG documentation is approved. Certificate of documentation, USCG documentation, and “To be on the USCG registry” are different ways of basically saying the same.
Different Forms of your Certificate of Documentation
Other than the initial form we talked about before, there are other forms that will help you to maintain your certificate of documentation up to date. It is your responsibility to inform the USCG of any changes in your situation. If you move out, for instance, there is a change of address form you need to complete. In that same case, you would probably need to change your hailing port, which is the dock in which your vessel spends most of the year. Another thing you may need to change at some point is the vessel name, the reason for which we created a specific form as well.
On the other hand, every year (if you own a commercial vessel) or every five years (if your boat is recreational) you will need to renew your certificate. The best time to do this is in two months prior to the expiration date. Before that period, the expiration date might change, reducing the time your USCG documentation is valid for. You can still renew it up to one month after the expiration date although you would have to pay a late fee as well. Once the 30 days from the date have passed, you will need to reinstate the document instead, which has to be done in a different form.
Additionally, you can also get a certified copy, delete your certificate or replace it, according to your needs.
We Can Process the Certificate of Documentation for You
As we said, all of these forms are ready for you at the Maritime Documentation Center (MDC). We are a private service that processes the forms for you. This way, we help you have access to it fully online while we keep your details secure, given that our platform is SSL-encrypted. Furthermore, it can also be helpful for you to have someone who overlooks your documentation, to prevent you from making any mistakes. Whether you are looking for your certificate of documentation or any other type of license, the MDC is the place to go. Contact us today for any other questions you may have!