If you are new to the boating world you probably may have come across some of the boating vocabularies you are not yet familiar with. Terms like “Marad waiver”, “claim of lien” or “change of endorsement” are pretty common when it comes to vessel documentation, but if one is not yet habituated he or she won’t understand what the article is talking about. This article will explain what a CoD is, and how to get your United States Coast Guard USCG Certificate of Documentation.
What Does CoD Mean?
As we were just saying, Cod is the short way of saying USCG Certificate of Documentation. Other than that, it is, obviously, a certificate. Its purpose is to establish the ownership and nationality of a vessel. Furthermore, it states that you have registered your boat with the US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center, at a federal level.
Boat registration normally occurs at a state level: it is up to each state to decide whether or not they accept federal documentation instead. There are, however, a few instances in which getting your boat documented might prove useful. Keep in mind that recreational vessels need to be over five net tons if they want to register with the USCG.
- If you plan to travel abroad a CoD is internationally recognized, so it would be easier for you to enter and leave foreign ports.
- If your boat is financed by a bank, they normally require you to be documented, as USCG-registered boats qualify for preferred mortgages.
- As you may be aware, boats also have their own “car plates” that need to be displayed. Registering your boat allows you not to display the state registration numbers, and show your boat name and hailing port instead.
How Can I Get my Certificate of Documentation?
The most direct way to get your USCG Certificate of documentation is to go straight to the source, the National Vessel Documentation Center. You will need to submit the form CG-1258, a proof of sale (state title or registration, bill of sale, etc) and, if you are doing it for the first time, an application for simplified measurement (form CG-5397).
Once you have gathered all the necessary information to fill that up, you only need to print the forms and send them out via regular mail.
Get your Initial Certificate of Documentation with Our Help
Let’s face it. In 2022, not all of us have a lot of free time. Even less for stuff that can easily be done online. And that is when Vessel Documentation Online comes into place. We are a third-party agency that specializes in boat documentation. With our help, you can process the paperwork you need from the comfort of your sofa. Just fill out the initial form at the top left side of our website and let us do the rest!
