Owning a documented vessel with the U.S. Coast Guard comes with responsibilities beyond just enjoying the open water. One key responsibility is keeping your vessel documentation current, including maintaining an accurate address on file with the Coast Guard. Life can bring changes—a move to a new home, switching business addresses, or other important shifts that affect where you receive official correspondence. In these cases, the Coast Guard Documentation Change of Address form is required. This form
Read MoreMaritime documentation may seem like an endless maze of bureaucracy, but finding key information about a vessel doesn’t have to be difficult. At Vessel Documentation Online LLC, we make it easier to uncover verified, relevant facts about documented vessels with tools like our Coast Guard Search By Name feature. Whether you're interested in buying a vessel, verifying its credentials, or just conducting research, our platform offers fast, reliable access to data that can guide your next steps. Knowing what’s in a Coast Guard
Read MoreHeavy weather can be a dangerous condition while you’re out on the water. Even if you’re careful enough, the dangerous combination of weather and water can still surprise you. During the boating season, heat waves can bring storms unexpectedly. They’re worse than getting seasick. The good thing is that you can take steps to ensure that you’re not going to the mouth of a storm while you’re boating in nasty weather or rough seas. Check the Forecast Before you even venture out, you must ensure that you know the water projections. Some boaters can read cloud formations and the wind conditions. These
Read MoreFortunately, the process for checking your Coast Guard documentation status is fairly easy and doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to figure out. Once you’ve submitted the initial documentation, you can also check back on the application process to see where you’re at in getting it completed. You can also check to see what the current processing times are. Remember, that most vessels are required to be documented with the United States Coast Guard, so it’s important to make sure your documentation is in order and current at all times.
Read MoreOne of the responsibilities you have as a ship owner, whether it is commercial or recreational, is to make sure your ship complies with current rules and regulations. For recreational vessels, often this simply means registering your vessel in the state you live in. However, depending on the size of your vessel, you may want to explore the option of federally documenting your vessel so that you have a listing with the U.S. Coast Guard. There are certain benefits to this documentation, including helping with international travel and in securing financing for your ship, that can make the process worthwhile
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