When you own any sailing vessel, recreational or commercial, and you take the vessel out into the open waters around the United States, you are subject to the rules and regulations set forth by the United States Coast Guard. It is the responsibility of the Coast Guard to protect our waters, and part of their responsibility includes documenting vessels in the United States so that there is a registry of large vessels. The segment of the Coast Guard that handles this information is located at the National Vessel Documentation Center, and there are several services you can do through this office.
Documenting Your Vessel
One of the primary roles of the USCG NVDC is to provide documentation numbers for recreational and commercial vessels in the United States. All commercial vessels must be documented with the center while recreational vessels over twenty-six feet in length have the option of getting documented. The paperwork and process are handled by the NVDC, and you can do your filing with them and provide them with your information. The documentation provides the Coast Guard with a registry much like the way your car or truck is registered in your state so that vessels can get looked up and ownership can be determined.
Renewing or Replacing Documentation
The National Vessel Documentation Center is also the office you want to turn to if you need to renew your documentation or replace a lost certificate of documentation. Documentation needs to be renewed annually to keep your certificate current and valid, and the forms for renewal are available through the NVDC website. If you have lost your certificate, there is a separate form and process to follow so that you can get a replacement (a fee is involved). If your certificate has expired, there is a reinstatement process you can go through to get the documentation back.
Smoothing the Process
While you can deal directly with the National Vessel Documentation Center for your documentation needs, here at Vessel Documentation Online, LLC, we can handle all your paperwork and forms for you to smooth the process and make things easier for yourself. You can file all your documents and forms on our website, so you do not have to worry about mailing documents or filling out forms incorrectly. With our help, you can get all your documentation concerns taken care in a very easy manner.
