Maritime Documents

What Maritime Documents You Must Peruse When Buying a Boat?

It is an exciting process when buying a boat. But before you make a final decision, it is vital that you have a clear understanding of your boating needs and lifestyle. Consider where you want to go. Will you go island hopping? Or will you use it for commercial fishing? Make sure that the owner…

How to Register a Boat, Explained

If you’ve never had to do it before, figuring out how to register a boat can quickly become a lot to deal with. It is, at the end of the day, a bureaucratic process that can take up too much of your time if you don’t know how to approach it or where to start. …

Who Can Apply to the MARAD Small Vessel Waiver Program and How?

The MARAD waiver is a Maritime Administration mechanism meant for foreign-built vessels. After all, the Jones Act requires that the vessels operating in coastwise commerce be built domestically whenever possible. The MARAD small vessel waiver program recognizes that foreign-built vessels can also contribute to American commerce, which is why it grants waivers to certain vessels…

Consult the US Coast Guard Registry Via Lookups and Abstracts

If you own a vessel, you are probably aware of the US Coast Guard registry, which is the database where the titular agency stores all the relevant information about the registered vessels. This is not a classified archive, though, since it can be easily accessed and consulted with the right information. This is a public…

Never Question Information About a Vessel with a USCG Abstract of Title

So, picture this. You are selling your vessel to someone and they request to know more about its registration history and financial standing. Alternatively, you are the one purchasing a used vessel and would like to be sure it doesn’t have any claims, liens, or debts attached to it. Don’t you wish there was a…

Getting Your Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation in Order

Every boat owner knows how important it is to have the corresponding registration in order whenever you are operating commercially. In fact, it’s imperative that you have your certificate of documentation in order at all times. Now, what happens if you don’t have it? What happens if something happens to it? What happens if you…