Generally speaking, for a commercial passenger vessel to operate in US waters, it’s required that it be built in America. This is a rule that is typically strictly enforced, but if you do own a vessel of foreign or unknown origin, there is a path to you conducting commercial passenger operations, and that’s with a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver. Should your boat meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for Coast Guard documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver, which can be a valuable boon to your business.
Finding Out if Your Vessel is Eligible
If you plan on acquiring Coast Guard documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver, it’s important that your vessel meets the imposed requirements. First off, your boat or yacht needs to be at least three years old, and it cannot have the capacity to carry more than 12 passengers. Secondly, you must be a U.S. citizen in order to apply for this documentation. It’s also crucial that your commercial operations are confined to passenger-based operations. If you plan on doing any commercial fishing, transporting cargo, dredging or towing, you should know that these activities are not allowed with a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver.
How to Apply for Your MARAD Small Vessel Waiver Online
In the past, the only way to get Coast Guard documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver was to fill out the forms and apply by mail. Since the paperwork can be pretty long and involved, this process can be something of a hassle. Luckily, times have changed, and now you can apply for your waiver online. A quick web search will reveal that that there are several companies who offer this service. It’s wise to seek out a company that helps with wide range of U.S.C.G. documentation, that way you’ll know that they are well-versed in what they’re doing.
U.S. Vessel Documentation Center Online Can Help
If you’re looking to expand your maritime business and you’ve decided that Coast Guard documentation and a MARAD Small Vessel Waiver is right for you, we can gladly help. At U.S. Vessel Documentation Center Online, we offer several helpful online forms for just about any type of vessel registration. Take a moment or two to explore our website and check out our wide range of services–you’ll see that we’re the absolute best at what we do.
