Do you own a boat that you’re considering registering with the U.S. Coast Guard for the first time? If you’re new to filing for documentation with the National Vessel Documentation Center, it may seem like an intimidating process. The truth is, however, though there is some paperwork involved, the overall rewards of registering your boat more than justify the time and energy involved. If you’re thinking about USCG ship documentation for the first time, here a few helpful tips to guide you through the process.
The Perks of an NVDC Registered Vessel
Maybe you’ve thought about getting USCG ship documentation in the past, but weren’t quite certain why you’d want to do it. The fact is, registering your vessel comes with a great deal of benefits to you as a boat owner. For example, it’s an ideal form of ID for your vessel, and when you travel to foreign ports you’ll have a much easier time clearing customs. Also, if the unthinkable somehow happens and your vessel is stolen, your ship documentation can be a big help in locating it, since it’s part of a national registry. Lastly, since a boat is a huge investment, most lending institutions prefer that a vessel be registered before they’ll approve any financing.
What You Need in Order to Apply
If you’ve decided the perks and rewards of getting USCG ship documentation for your vessel are worth it, here’s what you’ll need to do in order to apply. Make sure you have all your identification handy, like the name of your vessel, its hailing port, hull ID, and other essential information. You’ll also need to pay a small fee, note any endorsements, and offer some other basic details. It’s worth mentioning that the paperwork for initial documentation can be lengthy and time consuming – fortunately, there are now ways for you to easily file your application online.
U.S. Vessel Documentation Center Online Can Get You There
At U.S. Vessel Documentation Center Online, we’ll get you on your way USCG ship documentation in no time. Take a minute or two to browse our helpful website, you’ll see that we make it easy for you to apply for initial registration. Furthermore, after you’ve completed your first documentation, we’ll be able to help you with any of your other filing needs when it comes to NVDC registered vessels.
