Request an endorsement modification through our portal. You can update your vessel’s endorsement provided you meet the appropriate recreational, fishing, coastwise endorsement requirements and others.
USCG Documentation
We make it possible to request an endorsement modification online. We can help vessel owners move from recreational use to a commercial trade endorsement or shift between commercial categories.
Whether you plan to conduct domestic passenger operations, carry merchandise, fish commercially, or engage in international trade, we provide access to the correct forms and guidance.
What Form Do You Use to Change an Endorsement?
To request an endorsement modification, use the Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator form available through our portal. This form allows you to select the endorsement that matches your operational plans.
The options include several federally recognized endorsements, each tied to specific forms of commercial activity on the navigable waters of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone. When using this form, you can select:
- A fishery endorsement for commercial fishing activity
- A coastwise endorsement for transporting passengers or merchandise
- A registry endorsement for foreign trade activity
- A recreational designation for noncommercial use
The form is designed to allow vessel owners to transition from one trade indicator to another when their operations evolve. Our service streamlines the submission so vessel owners can focus on preparing for their new operational activities rather than navigating multiple steps.
What Is the Fishery Endorsement and Who Needs It?
If you plan to use your vessel in commercial fishing within U.S. navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone, the fishery endorsement applies. This designation is specific to vessels participating in fisheries recognized under federal law, and it confirms that your vessel is authorized to operate in those commercial areas. When submitting the Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator form through our site, choosing the fishery endorsement indicates your intention to conduct fishing operations that fall under national commercial regulations.
Vessels involved in fishing activity typically use this endorsement when engaging in operations such as:
- Harvesting fish or marine resources for sale
- Participating in fisheries subject to federal management
- Working in areas regulated by specific commercial fishing statutes
By selecting the fishery endorsement through our portal, you ensure that your documented vessel meets the appropriate standard for national commercial fishing operations.
What Are Coastwise Endorsement Requirements?
Many vessel owners request a shift to the coastwise endorsement because they are preparing to carry passengers or merchandise within U.S. waters. This endorsement applies to domestic transportation and is governed by these federal regulations.
The coastwise endorsement requirements apply to operations such as:
- Carrying passengers for hire
- Transporting merchandise domestically
- Operating charter voyages, including six-passenger charters
- Conducting commercial services between U.S. ports
When you use our portal to file for this endorsement, you are submitting the necessary documentation that aligns your vessel with domestic commercial transportation rules.
Coastwise endorsement requirements ensure that any vessel operating in these trades meets national guidelines for ownership, construction, and use. Because these categories are federally regulated, vessel owners must confirm that their vessel is eligible for this designation before submitting the change.
What If You Plan To Operate in International or Foreign Trade?
If your vessel will be used for foreign commerce, the registry endorsement applies. This designation is used for international operations and aligns your documented vessel with the appropriate federal category for foreign trade activity. When vessel owners intend to enter this market, they select the registry endorsement on the Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator form.
The registry endorsement is relevant when:
- Carrying merchandise internationally
- Traveling between foreign ports
- Engaging in commercial activities outside of domestic waters
Our portal provides the online form so vessel owners can file for this designation as they transition into international commercial activity.
How Does Our Portal Help You With These Endorsement Changes?
Our service gives vessel owners direct online access to the federal forms required to modify endorsements. While we do not advise vessel owners on operational decisions, we provide the form needed to transition to the appropriate commercial endorsement.
For example, maybe your vessel no longer meets fishery, registry, recreational, or coastwise endorsement requirements. Through our platform, applicants can:
- Submit the Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator form
- Request initial documentation
- Renew existing documentation
- Update certain information
- Request transfers for documented vessels
We make the federal filing process more accessible by offering a digital method for vessel owners to submit the correct forms to the appropriate authorities.
What Should You Know About Federal Vessel Documentation?
Vessel documentation is a national registration system that grants vessels a Certificate of Documentation in place of a state-issued title. Many commercial operations require documentation because it:
- Confirms the nationality of the vessel
- Allows entry into restricted commercial trades
- Facilitates interstate commerce
- Provides an accepted federal identifying method
Some vessel owners may need to maintain both national documentation and state registration depending on their state’s laws.
What Should Vessel Owners Know About Renewal?
Every documented vessel must complete USCG documentation renewal each year unless the owner has chosen (and is eligible for) a multi-year renewal term. Using our portal, vessel owners may renew their documentation for one to five years, depending on what they select.
Owners can request renewal through our online filing option if:
- They want to maintain an active Certificate of Documentation
- Their renewal window is approaching
- Their previous certificate has expired and they need reinstatement
Maintaining valid documentation ensures uninterrupted commercial or recreational use as permitted by the selected endorsement.
How Does Vessel Financing Relate to Documentation?
The preferred ship mortgage has been available for documented vessels for more than a century, and nationally documented status allows lenders to secure these mortgages through federal registration. Documented status often assists vessel owners when arranging financing, and our portal provides access to the documentation forms required during the vessel’s lifecycle.
How Do You Transfer Documentation After Purchasing a Documented Vessel?
When a vessel already carries an official number, and ownership is transferred, the new owner uses the Transfer/Exchange of Documentation form. Our portal offers this form so buyers can update ownership information while keeping the vessel’s existing official number active.
The Transfer/Exchange option may apply when:
- A vessel is purchased by a new owner
- Ownership shares change
- A documented vessel is sold with financing attached
Our service provides access to the appropriate form, making it easier for owners to complete the transfer process.
Can You Search Documentation Records Through Official Identifiers?
If you know a vessel’s official number or Hull Identification Number, you may perform a documentation search through the appropriate federal resources. These searches provide details such as:
- Vessel dimensions
- Flag information
- Vessel name
- Documentation status
These searches do not provide mortgage details or ownership information. Our portal allows you to file federal forms but does not perform research on your behalf.
This can tell you whether or not a vessel fits registry, recreational, fishery, or coastwise endorsement requirements.
How Can You Update Information After Filing?
If a documented vessel undergoes changes that must be reflected on federal records, owners may submit updates as required by law. Through our portal, vessel owners can access the forms necessary for modifications such as a vessel change of address or endorsement updates. These updates ensure that federal records remain accurate throughout the vessel’s operational life.
How Does Our Portal Support Your Documentation Needs?
We provide access to federal forms required for:
- Changing endorsements
- Renewing documentation
- Requesting initial documentation
- Completing ownership transfers
- Updating certain recorded information
Vessel owners rely on our service to file required documentation quickly through an online system that organizes the forms they need for their vessel’s operational category.
Whether you are changing from recreational use to a commercial endorsement or modifying your trade indicator to meet coastwise endorsement requirements, our portal offers a direct way to submit the correct federal forms.