If you’ve owned a boat before, you’re familiar with re-registering your watercraft. However, have you investigated the possibility of vessel documentation reinstatement? Many operators must make this choice every year, and making a final selection might be tough. Boat and yacht owners who are getting ready for the summer season may want to consider reactivating their vessel’s paperwork.
That means you won’t have to pay expenses related to re-certifying your vessel’s paperwork. You can make the best choices for your needs and budget if you approach the issue from a well-informed perspective. The VDR method, in a nutshell, is easier, cheaper, and quicker than the normal VDR procedure. As an alternative, if you are planning on changing the name of your vessel or if you have other unique circumstances, the conventional VDR procedure may be more appropriate. Read on to learn more.
Vessel Documentation Reinstatement Is Required If Your Vessel Has Been Out of Documentation for More Than 2 Years
The Certificate of Documentation must be reinstated if it has been more than two years since you last had it renewed. Your vessel must be documented if it intends to enter any U.S. port, even if it is not already in the country. Documentation on your boat has various advantages, including the ability to register your boat with a governmental body. Many ports and rivers across the world need permits for boats to access, according to archives.gov.
Your vessel cannot enter U.S. seas or ports unless you have a valid Certificate of Documentation on file with the U.S. Coast Guard. There are two types of paperwork for vessels: identification and registration. No registration or inspection is required for vessels that abide by a country’s rules and regulations. Individuals or businesses that operate privately-owned vehicles and engage in activities subject to the law must provide proof of ownership. Passengers, cargo, and the vessel’s owners, operators, and crew are included in this definition—a few considerations to keep in mind while deciding whether or not to chronicle your boat.
Vessel Documentation Renewal Is Not Required Unless Your Vessel’s Expiration Date Has Passed
Vessels that are either registered in the United States, a state of origin, or a foreign country are issued documentation by the U.S. Coast Guard. This serves as evidence that you are the rightful owner. If you want to ensure that ownership information is not lost, you must record the transfer of ownership in a legally binding manner. If an individual owns a vessel, it must be documented.
A boat’s documentation cannot be skipped; it simply expires after the allotted time. The vast majority of boat owners have never had to renew their licenses. As long as your boat was built before 1973 and registered in the United States, there is no need to register it with the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s worth noting, though, that if your paperwork expires before your purchase date, you’ll need to have it reissued. Even if renewal isn’t required by law, it might assist to safeguard your interests.
If Your Documentation Expires While Your Vessel Is Out of The Country, Customs Will Detain It When It Arrives Back in the U.S.
If you’re a boat owner planning a trip abroad, but your paperwork is about to expire, make sure you’ve got a backup plan in place. Before the expiry date on the original paperwork, vessel owners will often get their Certificate of Documentation (COD) and International Certificate of Documentation (ICD). In other words, they’ll be able to travel throughout the world for weeks or even months with these official documents in tow.
Customs will not just allow the ships into the nation without checking them when they return to the United States. It’s a bummer because if you wait until your paperwork is about to expire before renewing or reinstating it, Customs will hold your boat when you return to the United States. Proof that your paperwork has been renewed or restored is required before it may enter the nation.
Finally, if you’re only trying to extend the life of your U.S.-registered vessel, you should renew it. In addition to considering the advantages of each option, you should also evaluate the negatives and make sure that you completely understand what you are getting yourself into before deciding whether to reinstate or renew your U.S. Vessel Documentation (V.D.). You may conclude that it makes more sense to update your documentation after considering these aspects. This is a good option for certain people since they can quickly and easily qualify for renewal. Due to the cancellation of a survey or a lack of insurance, if your vessel does not satisfy the criteria to renew in a single step, vessel documentation reinstatement may be the best alternative for you.
However, regardless of how you choose to go, the procedure is quite quick and uncomplicated. When it comes to the essential questions, you’ll be able to answer them both ways and make an educated choice that’s best for you and your boat. Call the Maritime Documentation Center at 1-800-535-8570 to learn more about your options.