You want to be in compliance with your vessel documentation. However, to do that, you have to know your vessel documentation status. Once you know that, we can help with the rest. The process of getting the right documentation for your vessel may seem difficult or even confusing. Indeed, that’s part of the reason we started this company. With our site, you can take care of all of the forms you need taken care of. Follow this guide, and you’ll know exactly what you need as well as when you’ll need it.
Does Your Vessel Need Document?
If your vessel is not five net tons or more, nor used in fishing activities or coastwise trade on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, then it probably doesn’t have to be documented. There are certain exceptions. However, if your vessel is at least five net tons and wholly-owned by a U.S citizen, then you can choose to have it documented. As you might imagine, the exceptions include some rather unique specifications. If you have any questions about those or whether your vessel applies, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Does Your Documentation Need to be Renewed?
It’s not always the best idea to answer a question with a question, but it’s appropriate in this case: how long has it been since your documentation was renewed? If the answer is “about a year,” then it’s just about time for your documentation to be renewed. This documentation has to be renewed annually. That is, of course, unless you use our site. We make it possible to renew your documentation for up to five years in advance. That way, you have one less thing to worry about. If it’s “less than a year,” wait a while. However, if the answer is “more than a year,” move on to the next section.
Has Your Documentation Lapsed or Expired?
If you had documentation for more than a year but you didn’t renew it, then it’s expired. Unfortunately, at this point, you can’t just go through the “renewal” process. Instead, you have to go through “reinstatement.” Similar to your initial documentation, it’s one more service that we offer at our site. Then, you can renew it for years in advance so that you don’t have to worry about it expiring for some time to come.
The Right Forms No Matter Your Vessel Documentation Status
Perhaps you’ve read to this point and thought: “It’s been less than a year since I got my vessel documented, but I lost my Certificate of Documentation.” Unfortunately, that means you have to get a replacement. You can’t just go out on the water, doing what you want to do, without a physical certificate. The good news is, however, that’s just one of the many forms we can help you with at our site. If you’d still like more assistance or have any further questions, you can reach out to us here.
