General Vessel Documentation Questions
How to Change USCG Vessel Documentation When Life Changes
Have you gone through some life changes that could potentially impact your vessel? Do you know which USCG vessel documentation forms to use and when? We can help. Much like the unpredictable seas, life often throws unexpected challenges our way, demanding adjustments to our plans.
Just as sailors modify their tack, vessel owners must navigate the shifting tides of life, requiring changes in vessel documentation. Our platform offers vital resources and forms, ensuring smooth sailing through life's unforeseen changes.
USCG Vessel Documentation Transfer: Seamlessly Changing Ownership
Vessel ownership is as dynamic as the shifting currents of the ocean. You might start as a sole owner, later welcoming additional partners on board. Conversely, you may share ownership with others, eventually deciding to part ways. Such changes necessitate meticulous documentation to ensure compliance with Coast Guard regulations. Our user-friendly USCG documentation transfer form simplifies the process, guaranteeing an easier transition for all parties involved.
Change of Address and Hailing Port: Navigating New Waters
Just as boats change ports, individuals relocate homes. Whether you've moved residences or shifted your vessel to a different harbor, these changes impact your documentation. It may not seem like much, but informing the Coast Guard of your updated address is essential.
This information ensures you receive timely updates regarding vessel documentation renewals and related matters. Our platform streamlines this process, allowing you to update your details effortlessly, eliminating the hassle associated with paperwork.
Changing Your Endorsement: Adapting to New Horizons
Vessel documentation isn't rigid and unchanging. Instead, it's as flexible as the ocean itself. When you initially choose an endorsement, it reflects your vessel's purpose at that time. However, life's circumstances may alter your needs.
Perhaps you started with a Fishery endorsement, anticipating fruitful catches, only to discover a passion (or opportunity) for transporting people. In this case, changing your endorsement to Coastwise offers a seamless transition, aligning your documentation with your evolving pursuits.
Conversely, if foreign trade beckons with promising opportunities, transforming your endorsement to "Registry" ensures your vessel is equipped for international waters. Our platform empowers you to adapt, providing guidance through these changes to keep your documentation aligned with your ambitions.
The Ease of Updating Your Boat Forms
Life changes often herald new beginnings, symbolizing fresh starts unburdened by worry. Updating your vessel documentation forms ensures you embark on these new journeys with confidence. At our platform, we recognize the importance of a hassle-free experience. Our user-friendly interface offers the necessary forms, guiding you through the process effortlessly. By completing these forms accurately and efficiently, you gain peace of mind, knowing your vessel documentation is in compliance and one less concern to occupy your thoughts.
In the vast expanse of life's ocean, where uncertainties abound, having a reliable anchor is invaluable. Our platform serves as that steadfast anchor, providing the tools and guidance needed to navigate the complex waters of vessel documentation changes.
Embrace life's transformations with confidence, knowing you can rely on us to steer you safely through every change, ensuring your vessel documentation remains as smooth and steady as the sailing winds.
Just as sailors modify their tack, vessel owners must navigate the shifting tides of life, requiring changes in vessel documentation. Our platform offers vital resources and forms, ensuring smooth sailing through life's unforeseen changes.
USCG Vessel Documentation Transfer: Seamlessly Changing Ownership
Vessel ownership is as dynamic as the shifting currents of the ocean. You might start as a sole owner, later welcoming additional partners on board. Conversely, you may share ownership with others, eventually deciding to part ways. Such changes necessitate meticulous documentation to ensure compliance with Coast Guard regulations. Our user-friendly USCG documentation transfer form simplifies the process, guaranteeing an easier transition for all parties involved.
Change of Address and Hailing Port: Navigating New Waters
Just as boats change ports, individuals relocate homes. Whether you've moved residences or shifted your vessel to a different harbor, these changes impact your documentation. It may not seem like much, but informing the Coast Guard of your updated address is essential.
This information ensures you receive timely updates regarding vessel documentation renewals and related matters. Our platform streamlines this process, allowing you to update your details effortlessly, eliminating the hassle associated with paperwork.
Changing Your Endorsement: Adapting to New Horizons
Vessel documentation isn't rigid and unchanging. Instead, it's as flexible as the ocean itself. When you initially choose an endorsement, it reflects your vessel's purpose at that time. However, life's circumstances may alter your needs.
Perhaps you started with a Fishery endorsement, anticipating fruitful catches, only to discover a passion (or opportunity) for transporting people. In this case, changing your endorsement to Coastwise offers a seamless transition, aligning your documentation with your evolving pursuits.
Conversely, if foreign trade beckons with promising opportunities, transforming your endorsement to "Registry" ensures your vessel is equipped for international waters. Our platform empowers you to adapt, providing guidance through these changes to keep your documentation aligned with your ambitions.
The Ease of Updating Your Boat Forms
Life changes often herald new beginnings, symbolizing fresh starts unburdened by worry. Updating your vessel documentation forms ensures you embark on these new journeys with confidence. At our platform, we recognize the importance of a hassle-free experience. Our user-friendly interface offers the necessary forms, guiding you through the process effortlessly. By completing these forms accurately and efficiently, you gain peace of mind, knowing your vessel documentation is in compliance and one less concern to occupy your thoughts.
In the vast expanse of life's ocean, where uncertainties abound, having a reliable anchor is invaluable. Our platform serves as that steadfast anchor, providing the tools and guidance needed to navigate the complex waters of vessel documentation changes.
Embrace life's transformations with confidence, knowing you can rely on us to steer you safely through every change, ensuring your vessel documentation remains as smooth and steady as the sailing winds.
How Do I Register My Boat With the Coast Guard?
A common query from boat owners seeking documentation services is, "How do I register my boat with the Coast Guard?" It is no more difficult to register a documented vessel than to write a boat without paperwork.
A documented boat may be registered simultaneously as other boats you own, making it more straightforward. When writing a vessel with the USCG, you'll need the bill of sale, the title (if available), and any supporting documents like a nautical handbook.
It's best to contact ahead and schedule an appointment with our vessel documentation department if you're interested in getting your boat registered with the USCG. You must make an appointment before showing up.
Fill out the CG-1235 Boat Registration form after you have an appointment. If you bought the boat via a real estate agent, you'd need a Bill of Sale signed by all parties to the transaction.
Buyers and sellers are required to sign the bill of sale and indicate how much money was exchanged for each item.
Step four of your application should include this document. Ensure that everything you've typed is accurate by signing off on your application at number 5.
Registering your yacht entails much more than simply paying a fee and receiving a new certificate of registration. Preserving your investment begins with understanding the registration process.
Do I Have To Register My Boat With The Coast Guard?
Is the Coast Guard required to register your sailboat or motorboat? If you're from outside of the United States and own a sailboat or powerboat, you've heard that the Department of Motor Vehicles needs to register your vessel.
Unless the United States Coast Guard previously verifies it, every sail-powered vessel above eight feet in length, as well as any motorized vessel on the water, must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to the americanboating.org, when it comes to vessels deemed unfit for navigation, unsafe for public use, or otherwise dangerous for the public, the United States Coast Guard may confiscate them.
Your freedom to enjoy the water is increased with a registered boat. Nonetheless, it is essential to know how your boat is recorded, how to register it, and whether or not you are required to include it in your insurance coverage.
How Do I Document My Vessel With The Coast Guard?
Boat owners who are wondering, "How do I register my boat with the coast guard?" should be aware that having a boat comes with a lot of obligations, and determining whether or not you're doing them appropriately may be challenging. Owners must renew their Certificate of Documentation every year to prove that their boat is seaworthy (COD).
If you prefer, you can do this directly with the Coast Guard, and it will not cost you any additional money.
National Vessel Documentation Center accepts applications by mail or online for documentation of a motorboat, owner-documented fishing industry vessel, and sailboats less than 16.5 meters (54 feet).
Identifying a marina or shipyard with personnel trained in vessel documentation is the first step in the process.
Documentation of Vessels Form CG-1258 must be completed and submitted with the appropriate fee to begin the application process.
When applying for Coast Guard documentation for a U.S.-registered vessel, the owner, who is the applicant, must appear before an inspector to sign statements and affix "NOTARIZED" witness signatures.
Why Would You Register Your Boat With The Coast Guard?
The answer is because a US Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized as evidence of ownership and validation of the boat's origin by customs authorities across the world.
You will instantly get the protection and legal standing provided by the United States Government if you go to international seas while carrying your Certificate of Documentation with you.
You consider your boat to be one of your most valuable assets, but what will happen to it if you die or become incapacitated? This item may be sold or otherwise destroyed without your knowledge since there is no Certificate of Documentation.
Countries all around the globe accept a Certificate of Documentation as evidence of ownership and verification of the boat's origin as valid proof of ownership and authenticity.
And documentation is not just crucial for individuals who often sail to foreign seas; it also gives all boat owners a substantial degree of security, regardless of their sailing habits or local weather conditions.
Does The Coast Guard Hold Boat Titles?
Upon further investigation at the federal level, the exact need for vessel length is discovered.
Your boat will be classified into one of three categories: Class 1 is for boats under 24 feet in length, Class 2 is for vessels 24-30 feet in length, and Class 3 is for vessels 30 feet or more in overall length.
The state will record the registration of a boat under 24 feet in length; however, if the ship is 25 feet or greater in size, you will have an option between federal and state documentation of the registration.
Now, given all of this jargon, I believe it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of things.
A documented boat may be registered simultaneously as other boats you own, making it more straightforward. When writing a vessel with the USCG, you'll need the bill of sale, the title (if available), and any supporting documents like a nautical handbook.
It's best to contact ahead and schedule an appointment with our vessel documentation department if you're interested in getting your boat registered with the USCG. You must make an appointment before showing up.
Fill out the CG-1235 Boat Registration form after you have an appointment. If you bought the boat via a real estate agent, you'd need a Bill of Sale signed by all parties to the transaction.
Buyers and sellers are required to sign the bill of sale and indicate how much money was exchanged for each item.
Step four of your application should include this document. Ensure that everything you've typed is accurate by signing off on your application at number 5.
Registering your yacht entails much more than simply paying a fee and receiving a new certificate of registration. Preserving your investment begins with understanding the registration process.
Do I Have To Register My Boat With The Coast Guard?
Is the Coast Guard required to register your sailboat or motorboat? If you're from outside of the United States and own a sailboat or powerboat, you've heard that the Department of Motor Vehicles needs to register your vessel.
Unless the United States Coast Guard previously verifies it, every sail-powered vessel above eight feet in length, as well as any motorized vessel on the water, must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to the americanboating.org, when it comes to vessels deemed unfit for navigation, unsafe for public use, or otherwise dangerous for the public, the United States Coast Guard may confiscate them.
Your freedom to enjoy the water is increased with a registered boat. Nonetheless, it is essential to know how your boat is recorded, how to register it, and whether or not you are required to include it in your insurance coverage.
How Do I Document My Vessel With The Coast Guard?
Boat owners who are wondering, "How do I register my boat with the coast guard?" should be aware that having a boat comes with a lot of obligations, and determining whether or not you're doing them appropriately may be challenging. Owners must renew their Certificate of Documentation every year to prove that their boat is seaworthy (COD).
If you prefer, you can do this directly with the Coast Guard, and it will not cost you any additional money.
National Vessel Documentation Center accepts applications by mail or online for documentation of a motorboat, owner-documented fishing industry vessel, and sailboats less than 16.5 meters (54 feet).
Identifying a marina or shipyard with personnel trained in vessel documentation is the first step in the process.
Documentation of Vessels Form CG-1258 must be completed and submitted with the appropriate fee to begin the application process.
When applying for Coast Guard documentation for a U.S.-registered vessel, the owner, who is the applicant, must appear before an inspector to sign statements and affix "NOTARIZED" witness signatures.
Why Would You Register Your Boat With The Coast Guard?
The answer is because a US Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized as evidence of ownership and validation of the boat's origin by customs authorities across the world.
You will instantly get the protection and legal standing provided by the United States Government if you go to international seas while carrying your Certificate of Documentation with you.
You consider your boat to be one of your most valuable assets, but what will happen to it if you die or become incapacitated? This item may be sold or otherwise destroyed without your knowledge since there is no Certificate of Documentation.
Countries all around the globe accept a Certificate of Documentation as evidence of ownership and verification of the boat's origin as valid proof of ownership and authenticity.
And documentation is not just crucial for individuals who often sail to foreign seas; it also gives all boat owners a substantial degree of security, regardless of their sailing habits or local weather conditions.
Does The Coast Guard Hold Boat Titles?
Upon further investigation at the federal level, the exact need for vessel length is discovered.
Your boat will be classified into one of three categories: Class 1 is for boats under 24 feet in length, Class 2 is for vessels 24-30 feet in length, and Class 3 is for vessels 30 feet or more in overall length.
The state will record the registration of a boat under 24 feet in length; however, if the ship is 25 feet or greater in size, you will have an option between federal and state documentation of the registration.
Now, given all of this jargon, I believe it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of things.
How Do I Get an Abstract of Title and Why Would I Need One?
Are you in the process of researching a vessel and aren’t sure what’s the right one to purchase? Does it seem like you found the absolute perfect vessel yet just want to be 100% sure before you sign? Have you been wondering “just how do I get an abstract of title?” These questions make all the sense in the world. When it comes to buying a vessel, you can’t be too careful. That’s one of the many reasons that the Abstract of Title is one of our most popular forms of Coast Guard documentation. With this form, you can learn what you need to know right when you need to know it.
How Do I Get an Abstract of Title and What’s In It?
The Abstract of Title is, more or less, a form that tells you the complete history of a vessel. You’ll know how many owners there were as well as who they were. You’ll be able to see what or even if work was done on the vessel. Speaking of “work done on the vessel,” you’ll know who manufactured it as well as when. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll know if there are any mortgages and liens on the vessel, as well as whether or not they were satisfied. Most importantly, all of this information is backed by the Coast Guard, so you’ll know you’re getting the truth. Of course, the best place to find an Abstract of Title is at our site.
Why This is So Crucial
So that you make the right decision for your needs. Buying a vessel is expensive enough; the last thing you need is to take on a mortgage or lien on a vessel that you were unaware of. Besides, with this, you can know if there’s any work that you'll have to do on the vessel once it’s yours. Plenty of folks use the Abstract of Title to determine whether or not the seller they're dealing with is telling the truth. Someone that tells you how a great vessel is, how it’s new, and with the original owner, only to be contradicted by the Abstract of Title is someone that you aren’t going to want to buy that vessel or any other vessel from.
Should the Vessel You’re Interested in Be Overseas
We know that many of our vessel owners are interested in knowing all there is to know about a vessel before buying it yet the vessel they’re interested in isn’t in America. That’s fine. That’s why we offer the “Foreign Vessel Title Search Request/Transcript of Registry” form. This gives you just about all of the same information you would get from the Abstract of Title. However, it gives you that information about vessels in the United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands, the Caymans, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Canada. These are just some of the forms that we offer.
How Do I Get an Abstract of Title and What’s In It?
The Abstract of Title is, more or less, a form that tells you the complete history of a vessel. You’ll know how many owners there were as well as who they were. You’ll be able to see what or even if work was done on the vessel. Speaking of “work done on the vessel,” you’ll know who manufactured it as well as when. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll know if there are any mortgages and liens on the vessel, as well as whether or not they were satisfied. Most importantly, all of this information is backed by the Coast Guard, so you’ll know you’re getting the truth. Of course, the best place to find an Abstract of Title is at our site.
Why This is So Crucial
So that you make the right decision for your needs. Buying a vessel is expensive enough; the last thing you need is to take on a mortgage or lien on a vessel that you were unaware of. Besides, with this, you can know if there’s any work that you'll have to do on the vessel once it’s yours. Plenty of folks use the Abstract of Title to determine whether or not the seller they're dealing with is telling the truth. Someone that tells you how a great vessel is, how it’s new, and with the original owner, only to be contradicted by the Abstract of Title is someone that you aren’t going to want to buy that vessel or any other vessel from.
Should the Vessel You’re Interested in Be Overseas
We know that many of our vessel owners are interested in knowing all there is to know about a vessel before buying it yet the vessel they’re interested in isn’t in America. That’s fine. That’s why we offer the “Foreign Vessel Title Search Request/Transcript of Registry” form. This gives you just about all of the same information you would get from the Abstract of Title. However, it gives you that information about vessels in the United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands, the Caymans, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Canada. These are just some of the forms that we offer.
Why You May Need a USCG Certificate of Documentation
You may have dreamed of owning a vessel for many years, and finally you are able to make your ambitions come true by purchasing a second-hand boat. Once you are the proud owner of the new ship, you have to make sure that it is fully protected, and that you are free from risk if you take the boat out in the open waters. To ensure that they are protected as they sail in US waters, most ship owners will take out a USCG Certificate of Documentation, which places the vessel in a registry and ensures that you are compliant with the law.
History of Documentation
There has been a vessel registry in the US for hundreds of years, with many other nations having similar types of national registration for seagoing boats. This registry provides your boat with evidence of its nationality when it travels in international waters, and allows you to move freely between the waters of different states. In addition, vessel mortgaging may be much easier if you have taken out a certificate of documentation on the boat, as it provides some form of protection for the lender.
Requirements of Documentation
There are some regulations regarding the vessels which are being documented. For example, US certification demands that the boat be five net tons at least. According to the Simplified Measurement System, it is very likely that boats that are more than 25 feet meet this criterion. Another requirement is that the vessel must be owned by a US citizen.
There are some exemptions in which your vessel will not be required to be documented. For example vessels which are not self-propelled and that are used for trading within a harbor on the lakes (excluding the Great Lakes) or rivers of the USA, as well as the canals of any state in the country. Some oil spill response boats are also exempted.
Obtaining Vessel Documentation
Because the application process for a USCG Certificate of Documentation is so complex, we always recommend that you put your trust in a third party organization, who can help you to navigate the process before passing the application onto the Coast Guard. At Vessel Documentation Online, we can help you with every stage of the application form, checking it for accuracy and ensuring that the correct paperwork is included. By putting your trust in us, we can give you complete peace of mind about the process. Just call us today on (866) 981-8793 to begin your documentation application.
History of Documentation
There has been a vessel registry in the US for hundreds of years, with many other nations having similar types of national registration for seagoing boats. This registry provides your boat with evidence of its nationality when it travels in international waters, and allows you to move freely between the waters of different states. In addition, vessel mortgaging may be much easier if you have taken out a certificate of documentation on the boat, as it provides some form of protection for the lender.
Requirements of Documentation
There are some regulations regarding the vessels which are being documented. For example, US certification demands that the boat be five net tons at least. According to the Simplified Measurement System, it is very likely that boats that are more than 25 feet meet this criterion. Another requirement is that the vessel must be owned by a US citizen.
There are some exemptions in which your vessel will not be required to be documented. For example vessels which are not self-propelled and that are used for trading within a harbor on the lakes (excluding the Great Lakes) or rivers of the USA, as well as the canals of any state in the country. Some oil spill response boats are also exempted.
Obtaining Vessel Documentation
Because the application process for a USCG Certificate of Documentation is so complex, we always recommend that you put your trust in a third party organization, who can help you to navigate the process before passing the application onto the Coast Guard. At Vessel Documentation Online, we can help you with every stage of the application form, checking it for accuracy and ensuring that the correct paperwork is included. By putting your trust in us, we can give you complete peace of mind about the process. Just call us today on (866) 981-8793 to begin your documentation application.
What Documentation is Necessary for Commercial Shipping?
Choose a “Coastwise” Endorsement on Your Coast Guard Vessel Documentation
If your vessel meets the requirements of measuring at least five net tons in volume, is fully owned by a U.S. citizen, and you plan to use it for commercial shipping, it should be documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. When applying, select the “Coastwise” endorsement.
Click here to apply for Coast Guard vessel documentation.
If your vessel is already documented and you need to add the Coastwise endorsement, use this link to change your endorsement/trade indicator.
Guidance for Coast Guard Vessel Documentation and Related Services
The National Documentation Portal assists vessel owners with documentation, renewal, and other documentation-related services.
The following legal resources may provide more insights related to vessel documentation:
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements under subpart J of this part.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG-1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1003, as amended by USCG-2001-10224, 66 FR 48620, Sept. 21, 2001]
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG-1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG-1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
Subpart I—Marking Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.120 General requirement.
No Certificate of Documentation issued under this part will be deemed valid for operation of the vessel until the vessel is marked in accordance with this subpart.
67.121 Official number marking requirement.
The official number of the vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the official number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage to the surrounding hull area.
67.123 Name and hailing port marking requirements.
(a) For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
(b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.
(c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
(d) The markings required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.
67.125 Disputes.
The OCMI for the zone in which the vessel is principally operated has final authority in any disputes concerning the permanence, durability, legibility, or placement of a vessel's markings.
Subpart J—Application for Special Qualifications for Vessel Documentation
67.130 Submission of applications.
All applications made under this subpart and all subsequent filings to effect documentation, except as provided in § 67.133(b), must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995]
67.131 Forfeited vessels.
In addition to any other submissions required by this part, the owner of a forfeited vessel applying for a Certificate of Documentation for that vessel must submit the following:
(a) Where the vessel has been adjudged forfeit, or the proceeds of the sale of the vessel have been adjudged forfeit to the Federal Government of the United States by a Federal District Court, a copy of the court order certified by an official of the court;
(b) Where the vessel was forfeited to the Federal Government of the United States under an administrative forfeiture action, an affidavit from an officer of the agency which performed the forfeiture who has personal knowledge of the particulars of the vessel's forfeiture or a Declaration of Forfeiture issued by the agency which performed the forfeiture.
67.132 Special legislation.
(a) Vessels not otherwise entitled to be operated in the coastwise trade or in the fisheries may obtain these privileges as a result of special legislation by the Congress of the United States.
(b) In addition to any other submissions required by this part, the owner of a vessel which is entitled to engage in a specified trade because it is the subject of special legislation must include a copy of the legislation to establish the entitlement.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
If your vessel meets the requirements of measuring at least five net tons in volume, is fully owned by a U.S. citizen, and you plan to use it for commercial shipping, it should be documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. When applying, select the “Coastwise” endorsement.
Click here to apply for Coast Guard vessel documentation.
If your vessel is already documented and you need to add the Coastwise endorsement, use this link to change your endorsement/trade indicator.
Guidance for Coast Guard Vessel Documentation and Related Services
The National Documentation Portal assists vessel owners with documentation, renewal, and other documentation-related services.
The following legal resources may provide more insights related to vessel documentation:
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements under subpart J of this part.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG-1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1003, as amended by USCG-2001-10224, 66 FR 48620, Sept. 21, 2001]
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG-1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG-1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52190, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
Subpart I—Marking Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.120 General requirement.
No Certificate of Documentation issued under this part will be deemed valid for operation of the vessel until the vessel is marked in accordance with this subpart.
67.121 Official number marking requirement.
The official number of the vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the official number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage to the surrounding hull area.
67.123 Name and hailing port marking requirements.
(a) For vessels other than those covered in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
(b) Vessels with square bow. For vessels having a square bow, the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the bow in a manner to avoid obliteration. The name and hailing port must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern.
(c) Recreational vessels. For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
(d) The markings required by paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, which may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.
67.125 Disputes.
The OCMI for the zone in which the vessel is principally operated has final authority in any disputes concerning the permanence, durability, legibility, or placement of a vessel's markings.
Subpart J—Application for Special Qualifications for Vessel Documentation
67.130 Submission of applications.
All applications made under this subpart and all subsequent filings to effect documentation, except as provided in § 67.133(b), must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995]
67.131 Forfeited vessels.
In addition to any other submissions required by this part, the owner of a forfeited vessel applying for a Certificate of Documentation for that vessel must submit the following:
(a) Where the vessel has been adjudged forfeit, or the proceeds of the sale of the vessel have been adjudged forfeit to the Federal Government of the United States by a Federal District Court, a copy of the court order certified by an official of the court;
(b) Where the vessel was forfeited to the Federal Government of the United States under an administrative forfeiture action, an affidavit from an officer of the agency which performed the forfeiture who has personal knowledge of the particulars of the vessel's forfeiture or a Declaration of Forfeiture issued by the agency which performed the forfeiture.
67.132 Special legislation.
(a) Vessels not otherwise entitled to be operated in the coastwise trade or in the fisheries may obtain these privileges as a result of special legislation by the Congress of the United States.
(b) In addition to any other submissions required by this part, the owner of a vessel which is entitled to engage in a specified trade because it is the subject of special legislation must include a copy of the legislation to establish the entitlement.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
Renewing Your Certificate of Documentation
Define HIN
To Define HIN
The term "HIN," in vessel documentation, stands for "Hull Identification Number." This unique identifier functions similarly to a vessel's fingerprint, or like a car's VIN. It is distinct for each vessel.
A HIN consists of 12 to 14 characters and offers information about a vessel, such as its manufacturer and production timeline.
The initial three characters of a HIN represent the "Manufacturer’s Identification Code," revealing the vessel's manufacturer. For instance, "LWE" stands for "Lowe Boats," "YAM" for "Yamaha Motor Corp. USA," "CCB" for "Chris Craft Boats," and so forth.
The succeeding five characters are a serial number assigned to the hull by the manufacturer. This combination can be alphanumeric, excluding the letters “Q,” “O,” and “I" due to potential confusion with numbers.
The next components, from right to left, indicate the commencement month of the vessel's construction, the final digit of the production year, and the model year.
Further HIN INformation
This HIN format is applicable for vessels manufactured since August 1st, 1984. It is mandatory for all vessels manufactured or imported after November 1st, 1972. Vessels from before this date are excused.
Typically, the HIN is located on the starboard (right) side of a vessel’s transom, upper right. A duplicate HIN is also present in the boat's interior. The HIN must be visibly marked and difficult to alter or replace without detection.
Vessel Documentation Search and More Information
Our portal allows HIN or Official Number based vessel documentation search. The results include the vessel’s name, flag, endorsement, measurements, tonnage, documentation dates, and more. Visit this link to perform a documented boat search.
Ownership details are not included in the above search. To access owner information, submit an Abstract of Title application using the link. This document also discloses the vessel's ownership history and details of any liens, mortgages, etc., including their settlement status.
For queries on interpreting a boat's HIN or any vessel documentation matter, reach out to the National Documentation Portal through our site.
Vessel Documentation Laws
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
The term "HIN," in vessel documentation, stands for "Hull Identification Number." This unique identifier functions similarly to a vessel's fingerprint, or like a car's VIN. It is distinct for each vessel.
A HIN consists of 12 to 14 characters and offers information about a vessel, such as its manufacturer and production timeline.
The initial three characters of a HIN represent the "Manufacturer’s Identification Code," revealing the vessel's manufacturer. For instance, "LWE" stands for "Lowe Boats," "YAM" for "Yamaha Motor Corp. USA," "CCB" for "Chris Craft Boats," and so forth.
The succeeding five characters are a serial number assigned to the hull by the manufacturer. This combination can be alphanumeric, excluding the letters “Q,” “O,” and “I" due to potential confusion with numbers.
The next components, from right to left, indicate the commencement month of the vessel's construction, the final digit of the production year, and the model year.
Further HIN INformation
This HIN format is applicable for vessels manufactured since August 1st, 1984. It is mandatory for all vessels manufactured or imported after November 1st, 1972. Vessels from before this date are excused.
Typically, the HIN is located on the starboard (right) side of a vessel’s transom, upper right. A duplicate HIN is also present in the boat's interior. The HIN must be visibly marked and difficult to alter or replace without detection.
Vessel Documentation Search and More Information
Our portal allows HIN or Official Number based vessel documentation search. The results include the vessel’s name, flag, endorsement, measurements, tonnage, documentation dates, and more. Visit this link to perform a documented boat search.
Ownership details are not included in the above search. To access owner information, submit an Abstract of Title application using the link. This document also discloses the vessel's ownership history and details of any liens, mortgages, etc., including their settlement status.
For queries on interpreting a boat's HIN or any vessel documentation matter, reach out to the National Documentation Portal through our site.
Vessel Documentation Laws
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
Is a documented vessel exempt from state jurisdiction?
No, all documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. The vessel’s document must be shown to state law enforcement personnel upon their demand. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not numbered) and to display state decals showing that they have complied with state requirements.
Must my vessel be documented?
Vessels of five net tons or more used in fishing activities on navigable waters of the U.S. or in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), or used in coastwise trade must be documented unless the vessel is exempt from documentation. Coastwise trade is generally defined as the transportation of merchandise or passengers between points in the U.S. or the EEZ. In addition, towboats operating between points in the U.S. or the EEZ or between the EEZ and points in the U.S. and dredges operating in the U.S. or the EEZ must be documented.
Vessel Documentation Renewal: Why Keeping Paperwork Up to Date Matters
Fishing from your boat offers plenty of advantages. You can also travel anywhere you go. With the necessary documentation, you can travel and traverse international waters. However, just like owning a car, having a boat requires regular upkeep and proper documentation. Before you can even use your vessel internationally, you need to have it documented with the US Coast Guard. And you have to renew it every year through vessel documentation renewal.
Keeping Vessel Documentation Renewal Up-to-Date
Renewing the documentation is a vital process to ensure that your boat is in compliance with the US Coast Guard (USCG) regulations. Keeping the document updated ensures legal proof of ownership and guarantees that you have the right to operate your boat legally on the water.
Documentation as a Legal Requirement
It is a legal requirement in the US for boats that are more than five net tons and are used for commercial purposes or travel in international waters. The documentation provides important information about the boat, including ownership, nationality, and tonnage. It also serves as proof of ownership, making it easier for you to sell, transfer or mortgage your boat.
Not a One-Time Process
As mentioned, vessel documentation needs to be renewed every year to remain valid. If you do not renew it, it can result in fines, penalties, and revocation of the documentation. Thus, it is crucial to stay on top of the process and submit the necessary documents on time.
The US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is responsible for processing all vessel documentation and renewal applications to start the precise. You must complete and submit the application. As mentioned, this documentation is necessary if you are planning to use your boat in international waters. This certification is recognized internationally. It is easier for you to enter and leave any foreign port.
Is Your Boat Eligible?
Not all boats, however, are eligible for vessel documentation. There are several requirements that you need to comply with before the application is approved. One of these requirements is your US citizenship. Plus, the boat must weigh a minimum of five net tons. If your vessel is greater than 27 feet, then it definitely meets the minimum requirement.
Ensuring Successful Renewal
Working with our documentation service can be helpful to ensure your renewal is successful. As a provider, we can handle all aspects of the process, including preparing and submitting the application. It ensures that the necessary papers are in order.
Document Your Boat
There are numerous advantages to documenting your boat. But, as mentioned, it is not suited for all boats. If your boat meets the requirements, you are likely to get a US Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation. It makes your boat difficult to hijack. Furthermore, your boat’s value will be higher and it will be quicker to sell it.
How to Renew?
If you want the quickest vessel documentation renewal, make sure to use our service. Or you may read our FAQ section for any more needed information.
Keeping Vessel Documentation Renewal Up-to-Date
Renewing the documentation is a vital process to ensure that your boat is in compliance with the US Coast Guard (USCG) regulations. Keeping the document updated ensures legal proof of ownership and guarantees that you have the right to operate your boat legally on the water.
Documentation as a Legal Requirement
It is a legal requirement in the US for boats that are more than five net tons and are used for commercial purposes or travel in international waters. The documentation provides important information about the boat, including ownership, nationality, and tonnage. It also serves as proof of ownership, making it easier for you to sell, transfer or mortgage your boat.
Not a One-Time Process
As mentioned, vessel documentation needs to be renewed every year to remain valid. If you do not renew it, it can result in fines, penalties, and revocation of the documentation. Thus, it is crucial to stay on top of the process and submit the necessary documents on time.
The US Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is responsible for processing all vessel documentation and renewal applications to start the precise. You must complete and submit the application. As mentioned, this documentation is necessary if you are planning to use your boat in international waters. This certification is recognized internationally. It is easier for you to enter and leave any foreign port.
Is Your Boat Eligible?
Not all boats, however, are eligible for vessel documentation. There are several requirements that you need to comply with before the application is approved. One of these requirements is your US citizenship. Plus, the boat must weigh a minimum of five net tons. If your vessel is greater than 27 feet, then it definitely meets the minimum requirement.
Ensuring Successful Renewal
Working with our documentation service can be helpful to ensure your renewal is successful. As a provider, we can handle all aspects of the process, including preparing and submitting the application. It ensures that the necessary papers are in order.
Document Your Boat
There are numerous advantages to documenting your boat. But, as mentioned, it is not suited for all boats. If your boat meets the requirements, you are likely to get a US Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation. It makes your boat difficult to hijack. Furthermore, your boat’s value will be higher and it will be quicker to sell it.
How to Renew?
If you want the quickest vessel documentation renewal, make sure to use our service. Or you may read our FAQ section for any more needed information.
Should I return the certificate of documentation with the renewal notice?
Vessel owners do not need to return their certificate of documentation with the renewal notice. They do not need to do so even if their address has changed. That said, please note the address change. You will receive a new certificate that shows your new address. Click this following link for documented vessel renewal.
Boat Name Change FAQs
Can Every Boat Renew Their Documentation for Up to Five Years at Once?
No. Exclusively vessels with a "Recreational" endorsement are eligible for multi-year documentation renewal.
This allows vessel owners of recreational vessels to renew for up to five years at once. Commercial vessels, on the other hand, are required to renew their documentation annually.
This allows vessel owners of recreational vessels to renew for up to five years at once. Commercial vessels, on the other hand, are required to renew their documentation annually.
Is it Bad Luck to Change Name of a Boat?
Do you want to rename your boat but don’t know if you should? Is it bad luck to change name of a boat? And, if not, where did that belief come from? Here at the National Documentation Portal, we’ve helped so many vessel owners to rename their vessels without running afoul of any bad luck.
The belief that renaming a boat brings bad luck is a long-standing superstition. Of course, it is not based on any logical or scientific evidence. There are plenty of reasons to rename your boat to what you want it to be.
So, Is It Bad Luck to Rename a Boat?
The traditional belief behind this superstition is that boats, like people, have their own identities and spirits. By changing a boat's name, it was believed that you would anger or confuse the boat's spirit, leading to misfortune at sea. To avoid this, sailors would perform various rituals, such as renaming ceremonies or offerings to appease the boat's spirit when changing its name. Now, we understand that all of this is superstition and not grounded in reality. Yet, a boat renaming ceremony is a great reason to have a party with friends and family.
Why May I Want to Rename My Boat?
Perhaps you purchased a used boat with an undesirable or inappropriate name, or you may simply want to give their boat a name that holds personal significance or reflects their personality. The truth is that a boat name is going to be associated with you. So, you want one that you’re not going to cringe or be ashamed of throughout the course of owning your boat.
What Makes a Good Boat Name?
When choosing a boat name, there are no hard and fast rules, but there are some considerations that can help in finding a good one. A good boat name often has personal significance to the owner. It could be a name that reflects your interests, hobbies, or values. Many boat owners choose names that have a nautical or maritime connection, such as referencing sea creatures, navigational terms, or famous boats and sailors. A unique and creative boat name can make it stand out and be memorable. It can be a play on words, a pun, or a clever combination of words. Not to point you too much in one direction or another, but a name with positive connotations can create a sense of optimism and good vibes.
Are There Any Boat Name Rules?
There are limits to how long your vessel name can be. It can’t be longer than 33 characters (including letters and numbers). Plus, it can’t be anything obscene or anything that sounds like words used to solicit assistance at sea. When it comes to those requirements, use your common sense.
How Can the National Documentation Portal Help?
Many vessel owners have used our site to name their vessels in their vessel documentation. By that same token, you can choose to rename your vessel at any time. You can use our site for that, too. To see all of the ways that we can help, click here.
The belief that renaming a boat brings bad luck is a long-standing superstition. Of course, it is not based on any logical or scientific evidence. There are plenty of reasons to rename your boat to what you want it to be.
So, Is It Bad Luck to Rename a Boat?
The traditional belief behind this superstition is that boats, like people, have their own identities and spirits. By changing a boat's name, it was believed that you would anger or confuse the boat's spirit, leading to misfortune at sea. To avoid this, sailors would perform various rituals, such as renaming ceremonies or offerings to appease the boat's spirit when changing its name. Now, we understand that all of this is superstition and not grounded in reality. Yet, a boat renaming ceremony is a great reason to have a party with friends and family.
Why May I Want to Rename My Boat?
Perhaps you purchased a used boat with an undesirable or inappropriate name, or you may simply want to give their boat a name that holds personal significance or reflects their personality. The truth is that a boat name is going to be associated with you. So, you want one that you’re not going to cringe or be ashamed of throughout the course of owning your boat.
What Makes a Good Boat Name?
When choosing a boat name, there are no hard and fast rules, but there are some considerations that can help in finding a good one. A good boat name often has personal significance to the owner. It could be a name that reflects your interests, hobbies, or values. Many boat owners choose names that have a nautical or maritime connection, such as referencing sea creatures, navigational terms, or famous boats and sailors. A unique and creative boat name can make it stand out and be memorable. It can be a play on words, a pun, or a clever combination of words. Not to point you too much in one direction or another, but a name with positive connotations can create a sense of optimism and good vibes.
Are There Any Boat Name Rules?
There are limits to how long your vessel name can be. It can’t be longer than 33 characters (including letters and numbers). Plus, it can’t be anything obscene or anything that sounds like words used to solicit assistance at sea. When it comes to those requirements, use your common sense.
How Can the National Documentation Portal Help?
Many vessel owners have used our site to name their vessels in their vessel documentation. By that same token, you can choose to rename your vessel at any time. You can use our site for that, too. To see all of the ways that we can help, click here.
How Can I Find a Vessel’s Name?
Conducting a search through our site could help you to learn a documented vessel’s name.
Additionally, you’ll be able to learn information such as a vessel’s HIN (hull identification number), Official Number, service (endorsement), and much more.
Use this link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
Additionally, you’ll be able to learn information such as a vessel’s HIN (hull identification number), Official Number, service (endorsement), and much more.
Use this link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
What are the Vessel Documentation Endorsements?
A Vessel Documentation Search Provides Info About a Vessel and Its Certificate
A vessel documentation query through our site will provide the date when the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued as well as when it will expire.
This search will also include information about the vessel's dimensions, endorsements, particulars (such as size, etc.). So long as you have the vessel’s HIN or ON, you can acquire this information through our site.
Use this link to perform a vessel documentation search.
More Than a Vessel Documentation Search
This search will not provide ownership information. That information can be obtained through an Abstract of Title. You can apply here for an Abstract of Title.
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer’s Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder’s certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner’s title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder’s certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
A vessel documentation query through our site will provide the date when the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued as well as when it will expire.
This search will also include information about the vessel's dimensions, endorsements, particulars (such as size, etc.). So long as you have the vessel’s HIN or ON, you can acquire this information through our site.
Use this link to perform a vessel documentation search.
More Than a Vessel Documentation Search
This search will not provide ownership information. That information can be obtained through an Abstract of Title. You can apply here for an Abstract of Title.
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer’s Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder’s certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner’s title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder’s certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
How Can I Find Out Who Owns This Yacht?
The Abstract of Title
Those wishing to obtain yacht ownership data can apply for an Abstract of Title.
An Abstract of Title provides details of the managing owner of a documented vessel, along with the vessel's ownership history and any existing encumbrances/liens.
Use this form to apply for an Abstract of Title.
Please note that as of 2018, it's no longer possible to directly search for documented vessel ownership information online.
Another Way: a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Documentation
You can also find out the managing owner's details by obtaining a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Documentation.
Use this link to request a Certified Copy of vessel documentation from our portal.
Even though your search won't reveal specific ownership details, anyone is allowed to conduct a search on our portal.
Entering the Official Number or Hull Identification Number (HIN) will yield the vessel's name/number/HIN/flag, tonnage information, service details, particulars/dimensions, and more. This includes the status of its current Certificate of Documentation, including issue and expiry dates.
Use this link to explore the Coast Guard database of documented vessels via our portal.
Further Inquiries About Documented Vessel Owners
Should you have additional questions about locating vessel owners, feel free to reach out to us through our portal.
Eligibility for Documented Vessels
To summarize, to appear in a search, vessels must measure at least five net tons and be fully owned by a U.S. citizen.
Here you can find the specific laws detailing which vessels are eligible to appear on the registry.
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
Those wishing to obtain yacht ownership data can apply for an Abstract of Title.
An Abstract of Title provides details of the managing owner of a documented vessel, along with the vessel's ownership history and any existing encumbrances/liens.
Use this form to apply for an Abstract of Title.
Please note that as of 2018, it's no longer possible to directly search for documented vessel ownership information online.
Another Way: a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Documentation
You can also find out the managing owner's details by obtaining a Certified Copy of a Certificate of Documentation.
Use this link to request a Certified Copy of vessel documentation from our portal.
Even though your search won't reveal specific ownership details, anyone is allowed to conduct a search on our portal.
Entering the Official Number or Hull Identification Number (HIN) will yield the vessel's name/number/HIN/flag, tonnage information, service details, particulars/dimensions, and more. This includes the status of its current Certificate of Documentation, including issue and expiry dates.
Use this link to explore the Coast Guard database of documented vessels via our portal.
Further Inquiries About Documented Vessel Owners
Should you have additional questions about locating vessel owners, feel free to reach out to us through our portal.
Eligibility for Documented Vessels
To summarize, to appear in a search, vessels must measure at least five net tons and be fully owned by a U.S. citizen.
Here you can find the specific laws detailing which vessels are eligible to appear on the registry.
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
Boat Registration FAQs
How Can I Check if a Documented Vessel Has a Lien Against It?
Use an Abstract of Title.
To find if a documented vessel has a lien/encumbrance outstanding against it (as well as one that has been satisfied), interested parties can use this link to apply for a Coast Guard Abstract of Title .
In addition to the information about the liens/encumbrances, vessel owners can also find the complete chain of ownership, the vessel’s current ownership, and more.
For vessels in particular foreign countries, use this link to a Foreign Vessel Title Search Request/Transcript of Registry.
For More Information About Vessel Documentation
For information about a vessel’s particulars, dimensions, and similar info, use our site’s vessel documentation search.
If you have further questions, email us or reach us through our site.
Vessel Documentation Laws
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
To find if a documented vessel has a lien/encumbrance outstanding against it (as well as one that has been satisfied), interested parties can use this link to apply for a Coast Guard Abstract of Title .
In addition to the information about the liens/encumbrances, vessel owners can also find the complete chain of ownership, the vessel’s current ownership, and more.
For vessels in particular foreign countries, use this link to a Foreign Vessel Title Search Request/Transcript of Registry.
For More Information About Vessel Documentation
For information about a vessel’s particulars, dimensions, and similar info, use our site’s vessel documentation search.
If you have further questions, email us or reach us through our site.
Vessel Documentation Laws
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
How Our Documentation Center Can Help The Cost of Boat Ownership
Simple, easy to complete forms saves time and money, helping the cost of boat ownership.
Have you been considering purchasing a vessel but are unsure what the cost of boat ownership might really be? Our documentation center has helped vessel owners to find out more information about a vessel, through either a documented vessel search or by applying for an Abstract of Title. That said, there are some would-be vessel owners who may not know about certain boat ownership costs.
The Cost of Boat Ownership Rises Before You Get on the Water
Before you take your boat out on the water, you want it to be in the best shape possible. Boats require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. This includes tasks like cleaning, painting, winterizing, and engine servicing. Additionally, unexpected repairs can arise, such as fixing mechanical issues, electrical problems, or hull damage. The cost of maintenance and repairs can vary depending on the size and complexity of your vessel. While you’re at it, don’t forget about fuel consumption, especially if you have a powerboat or a larger vessel. The cost of fuel depends on the type of engine, boat size, speed, and the distance you travel. Fuel prices can fluctuate and impact your boating budget.
Training, Taxes, and More to Add to the Cost of Boat Ownership
As you may have noted from some of our FAQs, there are U.S. jurisdictions that impose taxes on boat ownership. These can be sales taxes, personal property taxes, or annual fees. Beyond that, if you're new to boating, you might need to invest in training courses or obtain licenses to operate your vessel legally. These courses and licenses may come with associated costs. Of course, when you’re on the water, safety is paramount. So, that can include life jackets, navigation instruments, safety gear, fishing equipment, water sports gear, and more. These costs can add up, but they can be necessary for a good experience on the water.
Boat Transportation Fees
It’s entirely possible that, depending on your location and/or situation, you'll need to consider the cost of a trailer, vehicle towing capacity, and associated expenses like maintenance, etc. By that same token, if you don't have a place to keep your boat on your own property, you'll need to consider the cost of docking or storage at a marina or boatyard. These fees can vary significantly depending on the location and the size of your boat. If you go with another option, mooring or anchoring your boat in certain areas may require permits or fees. In popular destinations, there might be charges associated with renting mooring balls or accessing marina facilities.
Registration: Costs Our Documentation Center Can Help With
We understand how onerous the costs of vessel ownership can be. Indeed, that’s just one of the reasons we do everything in our power to keep vessel documentation costs as low as we can. Through our site, you can find the documentation forms you may need for the course of vessel ownership. We see our low costs as one more way that we can support vessel owners. To see all that we offer, click here.
Have you been considering purchasing a vessel but are unsure what the cost of boat ownership might really be? Our documentation center has helped vessel owners to find out more information about a vessel, through either a documented vessel search or by applying for an Abstract of Title. That said, there are some would-be vessel owners who may not know about certain boat ownership costs.
The Cost of Boat Ownership Rises Before You Get on the Water
Before you take your boat out on the water, you want it to be in the best shape possible. Boats require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. This includes tasks like cleaning, painting, winterizing, and engine servicing. Additionally, unexpected repairs can arise, such as fixing mechanical issues, electrical problems, or hull damage. The cost of maintenance and repairs can vary depending on the size and complexity of your vessel. While you’re at it, don’t forget about fuel consumption, especially if you have a powerboat or a larger vessel. The cost of fuel depends on the type of engine, boat size, speed, and the distance you travel. Fuel prices can fluctuate and impact your boating budget.
Training, Taxes, and More to Add to the Cost of Boat Ownership
As you may have noted from some of our FAQs, there are U.S. jurisdictions that impose taxes on boat ownership. These can be sales taxes, personal property taxes, or annual fees. Beyond that, if you're new to boating, you might need to invest in training courses or obtain licenses to operate your vessel legally. These courses and licenses may come with associated costs. Of course, when you’re on the water, safety is paramount. So, that can include life jackets, navigation instruments, safety gear, fishing equipment, water sports gear, and more. These costs can add up, but they can be necessary for a good experience on the water.
Boat Transportation Fees
It’s entirely possible that, depending on your location and/or situation, you'll need to consider the cost of a trailer, vehicle towing capacity, and associated expenses like maintenance, etc. By that same token, if you don't have a place to keep your boat on your own property, you'll need to consider the cost of docking or storage at a marina or boatyard. These fees can vary significantly depending on the location and the size of your boat. If you go with another option, mooring or anchoring your boat in certain areas may require permits or fees. In popular destinations, there might be charges associated with renting mooring balls or accessing marina facilities.
Registration: Costs Our Documentation Center Can Help With
We understand how onerous the costs of vessel ownership can be. Indeed, that’s just one of the reasons we do everything in our power to keep vessel documentation costs as low as we can. Through our site, you can find the documentation forms you may need for the course of vessel ownership. We see our low costs as one more way that we can support vessel owners. To see all that we offer, click here.
How US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal Boosts Authority
Embarking on the seas with renewed authority begins with the meticulous process of US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal. In this journey guided by the expertise of the National Documentation Portal, vessel owners witness not just a paperwork renewal but a significant elevation of their maritime authority.
Understanding the Essence of Maritime Authority
Beyond the Helm: The Nuances of Maritime Authority:
Maritime authority is not just about captaining a vessel; it's about establishing a presence on the seas that commands respect. US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal becomes the cornerstone, solidifying and amplifying this authority beyond the helm.
The Symphony of Compliance: Where Authority Meets Regulations:
True authority in the maritime realm intertwines with compliance. US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal orchestrates this symphony, ensuring vessels adhere to regulations seamlessly, becoming authoritative symbols on the water.
The National Documentation Portal Advantage
Smooth Sailing with Renewal Experts:
Navigating the renewal process can be complex, but with the National Documentation Portal, vessel owners find a team of experts dedicated to ensuring smooth sailing through the renewal waters. The portal becomes the compass guiding captains to an authoritative renewal experience.
Personalized Renewal Assistance:
Authority is in the details, and the National Documentation Portal understands this well. The personalized assistance offered during the renewal process ensures that vessel owners don't just renew documents; they enhance their maritime authority with a tailored approach.
Elevating Identity: The Renewal Impact on Vessel Authority
Distinct Identity Through Renewed Documentation:
US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal is not a mundane task; it's a process that enhances a vessel's identity. The renewed documentation becomes a badge of authority, distinguishing the vessel in the vastness of the seas.
Authority in Recognition:
A vessel's authority isn't confined to its captain but extends to how it is recognized on a global scale. The National Documentation Portal ensures that the renewed documentation is not just compliant but also recognizable, adding a layer of authority in every port and waterway.
Navigating Renewal: From Process to Power
Strategic Renewal Planning: A Captain's Blueprint:
Authority is strategic, and so is the renewal process. Captains are guided through a renewal blueprint, ensuring that the process aligns with their vessel's unique characteristics and operational requirements.
Efficiency in Documentation: Authority in Action:
The National Documentation Portal streamlines the renewal documentation process, turning what could be perceived as bureaucratic into an efficient exercise in authority. The captain's focus remains on the vessel's operation while the renewal unfolds seamlessly.
Security and Authority: The Interplay in Renewal
Shields Up: Renewal as a Security Measure:
US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal isn't just about paperwork; it's a shield against potential security threats. The renewed documentation becomes a visible sign of authority and compliance, deterring unauthorized activities and establishing the vessel as a secure entity.
Legacy of Compliance: Authority Passed Down Generations:
Maritime authority isn't a fleeting moment; it's a legacy. Through meticulous renewal, vessels pass down a legacy of compliance and authority to future captains, ensuring a sustained and respected presence on the seas.
US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal – Elevating Maritime Authority
As the captain concludes the renewal process with the National Documentation Portal, the sails are set not just with renewed paperwork but with an elevated maritime authority. US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal becomes the wind beneath the captain's wings, propelling vessels with renewed confidence, recognition, and authority across the maritime expanse.
Understanding the Essence of Maritime Authority
Beyond the Helm: The Nuances of Maritime Authority:
Maritime authority is not just about captaining a vessel; it's about establishing a presence on the seas that commands respect. US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal becomes the cornerstone, solidifying and amplifying this authority beyond the helm.
The Symphony of Compliance: Where Authority Meets Regulations:
True authority in the maritime realm intertwines with compliance. US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal orchestrates this symphony, ensuring vessels adhere to regulations seamlessly, becoming authoritative symbols on the water.
The National Documentation Portal Advantage
Smooth Sailing with Renewal Experts:
Navigating the renewal process can be complex, but with the National Documentation Portal, vessel owners find a team of experts dedicated to ensuring smooth sailing through the renewal waters. The portal becomes the compass guiding captains to an authoritative renewal experience.
Personalized Renewal Assistance:
Authority is in the details, and the National Documentation Portal understands this well. The personalized assistance offered during the renewal process ensures that vessel owners don't just renew documents; they enhance their maritime authority with a tailored approach.
Elevating Identity: The Renewal Impact on Vessel Authority
Distinct Identity Through Renewed Documentation:
US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal is not a mundane task; it's a process that enhances a vessel's identity. The renewed documentation becomes a badge of authority, distinguishing the vessel in the vastness of the seas.
Authority in Recognition:
A vessel's authority isn't confined to its captain but extends to how it is recognized on a global scale. The National Documentation Portal ensures that the renewed documentation is not just compliant but also recognizable, adding a layer of authority in every port and waterway.
Navigating Renewal: From Process to Power
Strategic Renewal Planning: A Captain's Blueprint:
Authority is strategic, and so is the renewal process. Captains are guided through a renewal blueprint, ensuring that the process aligns with their vessel's unique characteristics and operational requirements.
Efficiency in Documentation: Authority in Action:
The National Documentation Portal streamlines the renewal documentation process, turning what could be perceived as bureaucratic into an efficient exercise in authority. The captain's focus remains on the vessel's operation while the renewal unfolds seamlessly.
Security and Authority: The Interplay in Renewal
Shields Up: Renewal as a Security Measure:
US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal isn't just about paperwork; it's a shield against potential security threats. The renewed documentation becomes a visible sign of authority and compliance, deterring unauthorized activities and establishing the vessel as a secure entity.
Legacy of Compliance: Authority Passed Down Generations:
Maritime authority isn't a fleeting moment; it's a legacy. Through meticulous renewal, vessels pass down a legacy of compliance and authority to future captains, ensuring a sustained and respected presence on the seas.
US Coast Guard Documentation Renewal – Elevating Maritime Authority
As the captain concludes the renewal process with the National Documentation Portal, the sails are set not just with renewed paperwork but with an elevated maritime authority. US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Renewal becomes the wind beneath the captain's wings, propelling vessels with renewed confidence, recognition, and authority across the maritime expanse.
How Our Portal Helps With USCG Documentation Forms
Has it been a struggle to acquire the USCG documentation forms you need? Does it feel like you have to search from one site to the next just to find what’s required for your vessel? In the not-so-distant past, acquiring the necessary NVDC forms for your vessel was a cumbersome task. The pre-internet era demanded a manual scavenger hunt either online or through physical visits, with the added inconvenience of having to fill out forms by hand. And, oh, the agony of a minuscule mistake leading to a cycle of reapplication. Fortunately, those days are behind us.
Today, the solution is as straightforward as a few clicks on our website, where we've streamlined the process for your convenience in many different ways.
All-Encompassing USCG Documentation Forms
Whether you seek the initial certificate of documentation, the renewal, replacement, or so many others, you can find all necessary vessel documentation forms neatly organized on our site. Gone are the days of navigating through multiple websites; now, you can find these critical forms conveniently in one place. From change of address forms to transfer/exchange forms and beyond, our site can serve as your comprehensive resource, eliminating the need to look elsewhere.
Simple Accessibility
Some platforms scatter forms throughout their websites, hoping to entice users to click through more pages. Here, we prioritize simplicity. We've strategically placed the most commonly used forms at the center of our site for easy access. No more tedious searches—critical forms are prominently displayed, saving you time and frustration in dealing with documentation.
Streamlined Corrections and More
Let's face it; paperwork is not everyone's cup of tea, especially for those who relish their time on the water more than administrative tasks. Vessel documentation is undeniably crucial, but the potential tediousness of filling out forms often dampens the experience. We established our business, in part, to ease this aspect for our clients.
Our commitment goes beyond just providing forms. When you submit your documentation, our professionals meticulously review it to ensure accuracy. This isn't a cursory glance by someone unfamiliar with the intricacies of forms; our trained experts thoroughly examine each detail. We strive for perfection, aiming to eliminate the frustration of having your forms returned due to minor errors. Your peace of mind is our priority.
Comprehensive Offerings
While we prioritize user-friendly access to commonly used forms, our commitment extends to providing a one-stop shop for all vessel documentation needs. Even if you encounter forms needed once in a "blue moon," such as "MARAD Waiver" or "Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator," you can find them on our site.
Online Convenience
Filling out forms by hand is a tedious task, often compounded by the hassles of mailing and postage. With us, that's a thing of the past. We've simplified the process, putting everything you need in one accessible location. Say goodbye to paperwork headaches and embrace the ease of vessel documentation with us. Our online platform allows you to effortlessly complete your forms, which are then seamlessly submitted. A few clicks, and you're done.
To see what we have to offer, click here.
Today, the solution is as straightforward as a few clicks on our website, where we've streamlined the process for your convenience in many different ways.
All-Encompassing USCG Documentation Forms
Whether you seek the initial certificate of documentation, the renewal, replacement, or so many others, you can find all necessary vessel documentation forms neatly organized on our site. Gone are the days of navigating through multiple websites; now, you can find these critical forms conveniently in one place. From change of address forms to transfer/exchange forms and beyond, our site can serve as your comprehensive resource, eliminating the need to look elsewhere.
Simple Accessibility
Some platforms scatter forms throughout their websites, hoping to entice users to click through more pages. Here, we prioritize simplicity. We've strategically placed the most commonly used forms at the center of our site for easy access. No more tedious searches—critical forms are prominently displayed, saving you time and frustration in dealing with documentation.
Streamlined Corrections and More
Let's face it; paperwork is not everyone's cup of tea, especially for those who relish their time on the water more than administrative tasks. Vessel documentation is undeniably crucial, but the potential tediousness of filling out forms often dampens the experience. We established our business, in part, to ease this aspect for our clients.
Our commitment goes beyond just providing forms. When you submit your documentation, our professionals meticulously review it to ensure accuracy. This isn't a cursory glance by someone unfamiliar with the intricacies of forms; our trained experts thoroughly examine each detail. We strive for perfection, aiming to eliminate the frustration of having your forms returned due to minor errors. Your peace of mind is our priority.
Comprehensive Offerings
While we prioritize user-friendly access to commonly used forms, our commitment extends to providing a one-stop shop for all vessel documentation needs. Even if you encounter forms needed once in a "blue moon," such as "MARAD Waiver" or "Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator," you can find them on our site.
Online Convenience
Filling out forms by hand is a tedious task, often compounded by the hassles of mailing and postage. With us, that's a thing of the past. We've simplified the process, putting everything you need in one accessible location. Say goodbye to paperwork headaches and embrace the ease of vessel documentation with us. Our online platform allows you to effortlessly complete your forms, which are then seamlessly submitted. A few clicks, and you're done.
To see what we have to offer, click here.
What a Documented Vessel Number Can Do for You
Do you want the freedom to use your vessel how you want? Have you gotten everything together that you need to get your commercial boating venture “off the ground” (so to speak) and don’t want to be hassled? That’s what a documented vessel number can do. Depending on your vessel and your circumstances, the Maritime Documentation Center makes it possible for you to use your vessel how you want to use it.
Do You Need a Documented Vessel Number?
The answer is: it depends. You DO have to get your vessel documented if your vessel is five or more net tons and used for fishing activities on navigable US waters or those of the EEZ (“Exclusive Economic Zone.”) Additionally, you have to get this number if your vessel is used in “Coastwise trade.” That means you’re transporting people or goods between various points in the US or the EEZ. If you use your vessels in that way (and they’re of that size) then you do need to get this kind of documentation. However, that’s not the only reason that you may need to receive this documentation.
“But I’m Not Using My Vessel to Make Money”
If you’re only using your vessel for recreation, then you might feel like there’s no need to get your vessel documented. Indeed, you don’t have to. However, you can choose to. The four types of documentation are Recreational, Coastwise, Fishery, and Registry. Each of them is self-explanatory, except for “Registry.” That’s often used for vessels that engage in foreign trade. One thing to keep in mind about the “Recreational” endorsement: if you do that, you can only use your vessel for recreation. If a vessel has any other kind of endorsement, then they can engage in recreation. Like, you could use your Fishery-endorsed vessel for recreation, but you could never use your Recreation-endorsed vessel to start a commercial fishing business.
What It Takes to Get the Number
At the Maritime Documentation Center, we do everything in our power to make it as easy as possible to get the documents you need for your vessel. However, there are still some requirements. For example, you need to be able to demonstrate that you own the vessel, you’re eligible for the endorsement you’re seeking, and that you are a citizen of the United States. If you can do that, then we can help.
Multiple Forms of Documentation Available
Getting a documented number, your initial documentation, or renewing your documentation are some of the most commonly used forms at our site. However, they’re far from the only form that we offer. In fact, you can find forms for practically every stage of vessel ownership at our site. From replacing a form that’s been lost or otherwise damaged, changing your address when you move, and so many others, we can make the documentation process that much easier. To see all that we offer, head to our site.
Do You Need a Documented Vessel Number?
The answer is: it depends. You DO have to get your vessel documented if your vessel is five or more net tons and used for fishing activities on navigable US waters or those of the EEZ (“Exclusive Economic Zone.”) Additionally, you have to get this number if your vessel is used in “Coastwise trade.” That means you’re transporting people or goods between various points in the US or the EEZ. If you use your vessels in that way (and they’re of that size) then you do need to get this kind of documentation. However, that’s not the only reason that you may need to receive this documentation.
“But I’m Not Using My Vessel to Make Money”
If you’re only using your vessel for recreation, then you might feel like there’s no need to get your vessel documented. Indeed, you don’t have to. However, you can choose to. The four types of documentation are Recreational, Coastwise, Fishery, and Registry. Each of them is self-explanatory, except for “Registry.” That’s often used for vessels that engage in foreign trade. One thing to keep in mind about the “Recreational” endorsement: if you do that, you can only use your vessel for recreation. If a vessel has any other kind of endorsement, then they can engage in recreation. Like, you could use your Fishery-endorsed vessel for recreation, but you could never use your Recreation-endorsed vessel to start a commercial fishing business.
What It Takes to Get the Number
At the Maritime Documentation Center, we do everything in our power to make it as easy as possible to get the documents you need for your vessel. However, there are still some requirements. For example, you need to be able to demonstrate that you own the vessel, you’re eligible for the endorsement you’re seeking, and that you are a citizen of the United States. If you can do that, then we can help.
Multiple Forms of Documentation Available
Getting a documented number, your initial documentation, or renewing your documentation are some of the most commonly used forms at our site. However, they’re far from the only form that we offer. In fact, you can find forms for practically every stage of vessel ownership at our site. From replacing a form that’s been lost or otherwise damaged, changing your address when you move, and so many others, we can make the documentation process that much easier. To see all that we offer, head to our site.
Vessel Documentation Forms FAQs
How to Renew Coast Guard Registration
It may not seem like a year has gone by already since you first purchased your yacht or large recreational vessel, but here you are, one year later, looking back on all you have done. You have traveled to many places, enjoyed relaxing weekends or extended vacations at sea, gone on fishing trips and swimming adventures, or just gone out for a few hours to spend time with family or friends. It can be easy for you to get caught up in all your boat has to offer, but you also want to remember that with boat ownership comes responsibility. That means taking care of your boat registration each year. Your Coast Guard documentation expires after one year,. We make it easy to renew Coast Guard registration through our portal.
Remembering to Renew Coast Guard Registration
While the Coast Guard does send out reminders to you so that you remember to renew the registration, if you are like most people, you might overlook them. The notices come several months before expiration and, thinking you have plenty of time to take care of it, you might just put it aside, leaving you to forget about it entirely. If you never get back to the notice, you stand the chance of letting your registration lapse, and this can become quite a problem for you. While there is a grace period of thirty days during which you can still renew, if you go beyond that, you will need to seek reinstatement of your certificate, which means more paperwork and more expenses for you. It also means that you are legally not allowed to have your boat in the water, and you risk receiving fines if you are caught without your certificate.
The Path to Renew Registration
Here at Vessel Documentation Online, we know that you may want a better way to remember to renew your Coast Guard registration. That is why we offer our online services to boat owners such as yourself. You can find the renewal form that you need on our website and click on the link to jump right into the application. Our electronic version is easy to read and to understand, and you can fill it outline in just a matter of minutes. Just send the form and payment to us, and our processors can take care of the rest for you, transmitting everything to the USCG on your behalf, so your renewal is accomplished.
Renew Your Registration Through Us
For the best method to renew your Coast Guard registration, come to us at Vessel Documentation Online. Our online forms are all safe and secure, using the latest encryption technology, so you know your data is protected. We also offer the option for automatic renewal so that you can pay in advance and we can update and renew your registration each year for you without a fuss. Never worry about your Coast Guard registration again so you can spend more time just enjoying all that your boat has and what your adventures might bring.
Remembering to Renew Coast Guard Registration
While the Coast Guard does send out reminders to you so that you remember to renew the registration, if you are like most people, you might overlook them. The notices come several months before expiration and, thinking you have plenty of time to take care of it, you might just put it aside, leaving you to forget about it entirely. If you never get back to the notice, you stand the chance of letting your registration lapse, and this can become quite a problem for you. While there is a grace period of thirty days during which you can still renew, if you go beyond that, you will need to seek reinstatement of your certificate, which means more paperwork and more expenses for you. It also means that you are legally not allowed to have your boat in the water, and you risk receiving fines if you are caught without your certificate.
The Path to Renew Registration
Here at Vessel Documentation Online, we know that you may want a better way to remember to renew your Coast Guard registration. That is why we offer our online services to boat owners such as yourself. You can find the renewal form that you need on our website and click on the link to jump right into the application. Our electronic version is easy to read and to understand, and you can fill it outline in just a matter of minutes. Just send the form and payment to us, and our processors can take care of the rest for you, transmitting everything to the USCG on your behalf, so your renewal is accomplished.
Renew Your Registration Through Us
For the best method to renew your Coast Guard registration, come to us at Vessel Documentation Online. Our online forms are all safe and secure, using the latest encryption technology, so you know your data is protected. We also offer the option for automatic renewal so that you can pay in advance and we can update and renew your registration each year for you without a fuss. Never worry about your Coast Guard registration again so you can spend more time just enjoying all that your boat has and what your adventures might bring.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Boat Registered in the US?
Although your boat is probably already documented at a state level it is never too late to register it at a federal level and that means with the United States Coast Guard (USCG). For that reason, this article will explore some of the advantages that documenting your boat with the USCG will grant you, and how long does it take to get a boat registered.
Advantages from Registering your Boat With the USCG
Like some other owners before, you will not be the first one wondering how to register your boat with the US Coast Guard. We know it seems complicated but trust us, it is not. Online yacht registration can be straightforward if you have the appropriate resources and knowledge. Registering your boat at a federal level will also give you some advantages we will be stated in the following lines.
To begin with, having your boat registered will grant you a Certificate of Documentation (COD). This Certificate is internationally recognized, so if you are traveling abroad, the process of entering and leaving foreign ports will be easier.
In addition to that, a boat that is documented has the option of not displaying its state registration numbers. Its name and hailing port will be enough to identify it. In case, for aesthetic reasons, you do not want to display the numbers, this is the way to do it.
Finally, if you opted to have your boat financed, the bank will require vessel documentation. This is because documented vessels qualify for preferred mortgages. The consequence of these advantages is that your boat will have an added value if you intend to sell it, as documented boats need to keep adequate standards, and the buyers have that in mind when involved in a transaction.
Processing Times When Registering Your Boat
All of this sounds really tempting, but if you are in a hurry and need to document your boat as soon as possible, you will still want to know how long does it take to get a boat registered. The truth is that there is no information on the subject, as the US Coast Guard does not state the processing times on their site.
According to the research we conducted, however, we can say that the time it takes varies depending on the way it was paid for (credit card or check, for example) and whether is the first time you are getting your certificate of documentation (around 12 weeks) or if it is a renewal (around 4 weeks).
It is Easy to Process Your Documentation With Vessel Documentation Online.
As we said before, chances are you are a busy sailor and you do not want to take care of the documentation by yourself. That is when Vessel Documentation Online may help you. We are a third-party agency that excels in the boating industry, particularly when it comes to the appropriate paperwork. So if you do not feel like doing the work all by yourself that is because you do not have to. Fill up any of our forms or reach us through any of the contact means or online chat and we will sort your documentation out.
Advantages from Registering your Boat With the USCG
Like some other owners before, you will not be the first one wondering how to register your boat with the US Coast Guard. We know it seems complicated but trust us, it is not. Online yacht registration can be straightforward if you have the appropriate resources and knowledge. Registering your boat at a federal level will also give you some advantages we will be stated in the following lines.
To begin with, having your boat registered will grant you a Certificate of Documentation (COD). This Certificate is internationally recognized, so if you are traveling abroad, the process of entering and leaving foreign ports will be easier.
In addition to that, a boat that is documented has the option of not displaying its state registration numbers. Its name and hailing port will be enough to identify it. In case, for aesthetic reasons, you do not want to display the numbers, this is the way to do it.
Finally, if you opted to have your boat financed, the bank will require vessel documentation. This is because documented vessels qualify for preferred mortgages. The consequence of these advantages is that your boat will have an added value if you intend to sell it, as documented boats need to keep adequate standards, and the buyers have that in mind when involved in a transaction.
Processing Times When Registering Your Boat
All of this sounds really tempting, but if you are in a hurry and need to document your boat as soon as possible, you will still want to know how long does it take to get a boat registered. The truth is that there is no information on the subject, as the US Coast Guard does not state the processing times on their site.
According to the research we conducted, however, we can say that the time it takes varies depending on the way it was paid for (credit card or check, for example) and whether is the first time you are getting your certificate of documentation (around 12 weeks) or if it is a renewal (around 4 weeks).
It is Easy to Process Your Documentation With Vessel Documentation Online.
As we said before, chances are you are a busy sailor and you do not want to take care of the documentation by yourself. That is when Vessel Documentation Online may help you. We are a third-party agency that excels in the boating industry, particularly when it comes to the appropriate paperwork. So if you do not feel like doing the work all by yourself that is because you do not have to. Fill up any of our forms or reach us through any of the contact means or online chat and we will sort your documentation out.
How to Make US Vessel Documentation Easier
If you’ve read these blogs for any length of time, then you know that we offer a way to handle all of your US vessel documentation online. You can go through our site, find all of the forms that you need, and then fill them out in a matter of minutes. However, we’re not content with just that. We’re always looking for ways to enhance our site, to improve it, to make it that much better. By continually improving it, we can give our customers an even better experience.
SSL Encryption: Better Security
Security is paramount for our company. First and foremost, we have to be able to protect our clients’ information. When someone comes to our site and fills out a documentation form, the last thing they should worry about is whether or not they are going to have their data stolen. That is why we provide our clients with the kind of rock-solid security they deserve. To make it even better, we’ve recently utilized SSL encryption. This can make our site virtually impenetrable so that our clients can use our forms with peace of mind.
Less to Worry About
As you may know, you have to renew your vessel’s registration once a year. This can be a real pain for some: we all get busy, we all have plenty to do, so it’s not always easy to remember to renew your registration. So, we’ve made it possible to renew your registration for years in advance. Instead of going year by year, when you register your vessel with us, you can register it for up to five years in advance. That way, for the next half-decade, you’ll be able to use your vessel when you want without any concerns about losing registration. We see it as one more way that we can help our customers.
Faster Service
We always move as quickly as possible at Vessel Documentation Online. That said, we know that there are some clients who don’t have time to waste when it comes to their documentation. They need to get their forms back as soon as possible. We respect that. To help these clients out, we have a “rush processing” option. If you opt for that, we’ll put you at the top of the queue. Our service is always fast, but for those with special considerations, we want to be able to help you in any way that we can.
Always Improving Your US Vessel Documentation Experience
That’s just what we’re doing right now. We’ll be doing even more in a few weeks, months, and years from now. This blog was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we never closed. Our customers are still getting the service that they need from our site as well as through our trained, professional staff. Vessels and vessel documentation will always be a part of life, so we want to be there for vessel owners like ourselves.
SSL Encryption: Better Security
Security is paramount for our company. First and foremost, we have to be able to protect our clients’ information. When someone comes to our site and fills out a documentation form, the last thing they should worry about is whether or not they are going to have their data stolen. That is why we provide our clients with the kind of rock-solid security they deserve. To make it even better, we’ve recently utilized SSL encryption. This can make our site virtually impenetrable so that our clients can use our forms with peace of mind.
Less to Worry About
As you may know, you have to renew your vessel’s registration once a year. This can be a real pain for some: we all get busy, we all have plenty to do, so it’s not always easy to remember to renew your registration. So, we’ve made it possible to renew your registration for years in advance. Instead of going year by year, when you register your vessel with us, you can register it for up to five years in advance. That way, for the next half-decade, you’ll be able to use your vessel when you want without any concerns about losing registration. We see it as one more way that we can help our customers.
Faster Service
We always move as quickly as possible at Vessel Documentation Online. That said, we know that there are some clients who don’t have time to waste when it comes to their documentation. They need to get their forms back as soon as possible. We respect that. To help these clients out, we have a “rush processing” option. If you opt for that, we’ll put you at the top of the queue. Our service is always fast, but for those with special considerations, we want to be able to help you in any way that we can.
Always Improving Your US Vessel Documentation Experience
That’s just what we’re doing right now. We’ll be doing even more in a few weeks, months, and years from now. This blog was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we never closed. Our customers are still getting the service that they need from our site as well as through our trained, professional staff. Vessels and vessel documentation will always be a part of life, so we want to be there for vessel owners like ourselves.
First Preferred Ship’s Mortgage: Why It’s the Preference of Many Vessel Owners
Are you a vessel owner considering a mortgage for your craft? If so, then you may want to consider obtaining a preferred ship's mortgage. A preferred ship's mortgage is one of the most popular types of loan when it comes to vessels. To be eligible for this mortgage, your vessel has to meet certain criteria. Here at our Vessel Registrar Center, you’ll find the forms you need to not just apply for one of these mortgages, but you’ll also find the forms for when you’ve satisfied them, too.
Brief Overview of These Kinds of Mortgages
These mortgages are an important tool that can help ship owners and lenders manage and mitigate their financial risks. Unlike traditional mortgages, these types of mortgages are specifically designed for ships and have specific requirements that must be met in order to be considered valid. When a preferred ship's mortgage is issued, it provides a number of benefits to the borrower, including access to more affordable financing, better terms and conditions, and increased security against default. For lenders, preferred ship's mortgages provide a level of protection against potential losses, making it easier to extend credit to shipowners who may otherwise not be eligible for traditional loans.
How Vessel Documentation Can Help Secure Your Preferred Ship's Mortgage
Simply put, you can’t be eligible for this mortgage without it. Should your vessel lack USCG documentation, you will not be able to secure this mortgage. That said, your vessel very well may be eligible for this documentation. For example, if your vessel measures at least five net tons and is wholly owned by an American citizen, then you can document your vessel. Keep in mind: “net tonnage” measures volume and not weight. So, to measure this, see if your vessel is at least 25 feet long. If it is, then it’s almost assuredly five net tons.
Before You Apply for this Mortgage
Here at the National Documentation Portal, we provide access to all of the forms that you might need for the course of owning your vessel. That means we have the forms you’ll need to document your vessel, renew that documentation, apply for this mortgage, and so forth. But, we aren’t maritime attorneys. Before you apply for this mortgage, we do recommend that you talk to a professional. That way, you can know definitively it’s the right course of action for you and your vessel.
Once You’ve Paid Off the First Preferred Ship’s Mortgage
There’s an old saying: “The best days of boat ownership are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.” That very well may be true, but another great day is the day you pay off your ship’s mortgage. When you do that, we have the forms you’ll need to let the USCG know. In the event you do sell your documented vessel, we have the Transfer/Exchange forms, too.
Brief Overview of These Kinds of Mortgages
These mortgages are an important tool that can help ship owners and lenders manage and mitigate their financial risks. Unlike traditional mortgages, these types of mortgages are specifically designed for ships and have specific requirements that must be met in order to be considered valid. When a preferred ship's mortgage is issued, it provides a number of benefits to the borrower, including access to more affordable financing, better terms and conditions, and increased security against default. For lenders, preferred ship's mortgages provide a level of protection against potential losses, making it easier to extend credit to shipowners who may otherwise not be eligible for traditional loans.
How Vessel Documentation Can Help Secure Your Preferred Ship's Mortgage
Simply put, you can’t be eligible for this mortgage without it. Should your vessel lack USCG documentation, you will not be able to secure this mortgage. That said, your vessel very well may be eligible for this documentation. For example, if your vessel measures at least five net tons and is wholly owned by an American citizen, then you can document your vessel. Keep in mind: “net tonnage” measures volume and not weight. So, to measure this, see if your vessel is at least 25 feet long. If it is, then it’s almost assuredly five net tons.
Before You Apply for this Mortgage
Here at the National Documentation Portal, we provide access to all of the forms that you might need for the course of owning your vessel. That means we have the forms you’ll need to document your vessel, renew that documentation, apply for this mortgage, and so forth. But, we aren’t maritime attorneys. Before you apply for this mortgage, we do recommend that you talk to a professional. That way, you can know definitively it’s the right course of action for you and your vessel.
Once You’ve Paid Off the First Preferred Ship’s Mortgage
There’s an old saying: “The best days of boat ownership are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.” That very well may be true, but another great day is the day you pay off your ship’s mortgage. When you do that, we have the forms you’ll need to let the USCG know. In the event you do sell your documented vessel, we have the Transfer/Exchange forms, too.
Why Document a Vessel? Find The Reasons Here!
Why document a vessel? This is likely a question you’ve asked yourself at least once if you’re a recreational boat owner. The purchasing process on its own was already likely a tedious one for you. Now, you have to take care of the post-ownership requirements like titling and documentation, which aren’t a walk in the park to obtain, either.
For this article, we’ll focus on documenting a vessel and why it is such an important process. We’ll tell you about its benefits and purposes and why you should need to fulfill this necessity.
What Is a Vessel Certificate of Document?
All adult individuals are required to have a Social Security Number. It’s your primary form of identity as a citizen of a particular country. In essence, it’s one of the major proofs that you exist.
In the same way, a vessel’s certificate of document is the paperwork to establish its national registry. It’s a vessel’s unique identifier for the United States Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). In a nutshell, a document is a form of verification that the vessel meets the appropriate requirements.
With vessel registration, here are the following regulations:
The vessel’s purpose
Both the tonnage and build requirements for documented vessels
Vessels that are available for documentation
The types of endorsements available
Any existing exemptions
The Purposes For Documenting a Vessel
Now, let’s talk about the topic that you came here for. Vessel documentation is important on several levels, but primarily, it serves three necessary purposes. The first and likely list-topper: proof of identity. This particularly works well in international ports wherein the vessel documentation will be the individual’s evidence of nationality. And with the seal of the US Coast Guard, you’ll have a more legitimate claim as an American vessel.
The second reason for documenting a vessel: commerce. The document will enable your ship to partake in commercial activities. The best part here is that it essentially gives you a special pass to jump over the unnecessary red tape that everyone else, unfortunately, goes through.
The third reason for documenting a vessel: participation in trades. With the certificate of a document in place, vessel owners can now join in trades like fishing, recreation, as well as dredging, and towing.
What Information Is Included in the Vessel Document?
The said document is essentially an elaborate ID that every vessel owner needs. Upon your boat’s registry, it will then be listed in the Merchant Vessels of the United States. This database will feature all the basic information for every merchant and recreational vessel in the country.
The usual information you’ll find are:
Ownership information
Tonnage
Vessel dimensions
Build
Why Document a Vessel?
As you’ve read through the article, documenting a vessel is important for establishing ownership. It essentially legitimizes your proprietorship of the boat and sets aside any questions that may say otherwise.
The good thing about this is that procuring a certificate of the document has been made much easier these days. For one, renewal was shifted to an annual arrangement every five years. And all you’ll need to pay is a very affordable amount of $133. In exchange, you get to have the necessary paperwork to help you avoid all headaches that can potentially cause you problems. And that’s not a bad deal.
For this article, we’ll focus on documenting a vessel and why it is such an important process. We’ll tell you about its benefits and purposes and why you should need to fulfill this necessity.
What Is a Vessel Certificate of Document?
All adult individuals are required to have a Social Security Number. It’s your primary form of identity as a citizen of a particular country. In essence, it’s one of the major proofs that you exist.
In the same way, a vessel’s certificate of document is the paperwork to establish its national registry. It’s a vessel’s unique identifier for the United States Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). In a nutshell, a document is a form of verification that the vessel meets the appropriate requirements.
With vessel registration, here are the following regulations:
The vessel’s purpose
Both the tonnage and build requirements for documented vessels
Vessels that are available for documentation
The types of endorsements available
Any existing exemptions
The Purposes For Documenting a Vessel
Now, let’s talk about the topic that you came here for. Vessel documentation is important on several levels, but primarily, it serves three necessary purposes. The first and likely list-topper: proof of identity. This particularly works well in international ports wherein the vessel documentation will be the individual’s evidence of nationality. And with the seal of the US Coast Guard, you’ll have a more legitimate claim as an American vessel.
The second reason for documenting a vessel: commerce. The document will enable your ship to partake in commercial activities. The best part here is that it essentially gives you a special pass to jump over the unnecessary red tape that everyone else, unfortunately, goes through.
The third reason for documenting a vessel: participation in trades. With the certificate of a document in place, vessel owners can now join in trades like fishing, recreation, as well as dredging, and towing.
What Information Is Included in the Vessel Document?
The said document is essentially an elaborate ID that every vessel owner needs. Upon your boat’s registry, it will then be listed in the Merchant Vessels of the United States. This database will feature all the basic information for every merchant and recreational vessel in the country.
The usual information you’ll find are:
Ownership information
Tonnage
Vessel dimensions
Build
Why Document a Vessel?
As you’ve read through the article, documenting a vessel is important for establishing ownership. It essentially legitimizes your proprietorship of the boat and sets aside any questions that may say otherwise.
The good thing about this is that procuring a certificate of the document has been made much easier these days. For one, renewal was shifted to an annual arrangement every five years. And all you’ll need to pay is a very affordable amount of $133. In exchange, you get to have the necessary paperwork to help you avoid all headaches that can potentially cause you problems. And that’s not a bad deal.
Vessel Documentation Search FAQs
How can I check if my vessel is documented or not?
You can check if your vessel is documented or not by conducting a vessel documentation search.
Bill of Sale for a Boat: What it Should Have and Why
Are you in the process of selling a boat and want to know if you need a bill of sale? Do you know what goes into a bill of a sale for a boat when you write one? Not every vessel sale requires a bill of sale and indeed, some sales cannot include them. Here at the National Documentation Portal, we have forms for the transfer of documented vessels, yes. But, we can also walk you through what’s in a bill of sale.
So, What is in a Bill of Sale for a Boat?
One of the most common questions we get is: “Where can I find an official bill of sale document?” Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a universally “official” bill of sale stamped by the Coast Guard. There are certain pieces of information it must include.
First and foremost, it should encompass the names of all parties involved. Beyond mere names, details such as license numbers and complete addresses are integral. Equally crucial is detailed information about the vessel in question: its make, model, and identification number.
Even seemingly minor alterations made after the purchase, if any, should be a mentioned. A cardinal rule in this process is to document the sale comprehensively. The agreed-upon price should be explicitly stated in writing within the document. This serves not only as a testament to the financial agreement but also as a preventive measure against potential disputes that might arise later.
The Significance of a USCG Boat Bill of Sale
At first glance, a bill of sale might seem like a mere formality in a boat transaction. However, its importance cannot be overstated. Beyond being a testament to the transfer of ownership, it plays a pivotal role in proving your ownership rights.
While it may not be definitive legal proof, it serves as a tangible record of the transaction, a document that can bolster your claim in case of disputes.
Post-Sale Protocols
A successful sale doesn’t conclude with a mere handshake. The signatures of all parties involved are vital, providing tangible proof of the agreement. It’s advisable to maintain written records of the agreement, which can be appended to the bill of sale. Furthermore, making multiple copies of the document is prudent. While digital copies stored securely on your devices offer convenience, having physical copies ensures redundancy, safeguarding your interests against unexpected events.
How to Sell a Documented Vessel
If your vessel has been documented with the USCG, you can’t sell it with a bill of sale. Instead, you have to use the “Transfer of Ownership” form at our site. We offer that form, yes. But, we also offer a comprehensive repository of all the forms essential for every stage of vessel ownership.
Whether you require initial documentation, renewal, replacement, reinstatement, deletion, or any other form, our catalog is replete with the documents that ensure your compliance with legal requirements. Our online repository provides a user-friendly interface so that you can complete these forms from anywhere.
To see how we can help, click here.
So, What is in a Bill of Sale for a Boat?
One of the most common questions we get is: “Where can I find an official bill of sale document?” Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a universally “official” bill of sale stamped by the Coast Guard. There are certain pieces of information it must include.
First and foremost, it should encompass the names of all parties involved. Beyond mere names, details such as license numbers and complete addresses are integral. Equally crucial is detailed information about the vessel in question: its make, model, and identification number.
Even seemingly minor alterations made after the purchase, if any, should be a mentioned. A cardinal rule in this process is to document the sale comprehensively. The agreed-upon price should be explicitly stated in writing within the document. This serves not only as a testament to the financial agreement but also as a preventive measure against potential disputes that might arise later.
The Significance of a USCG Boat Bill of Sale
At first glance, a bill of sale might seem like a mere formality in a boat transaction. However, its importance cannot be overstated. Beyond being a testament to the transfer of ownership, it plays a pivotal role in proving your ownership rights.
While it may not be definitive legal proof, it serves as a tangible record of the transaction, a document that can bolster your claim in case of disputes.
Post-Sale Protocols
A successful sale doesn’t conclude with a mere handshake. The signatures of all parties involved are vital, providing tangible proof of the agreement. It’s advisable to maintain written records of the agreement, which can be appended to the bill of sale. Furthermore, making multiple copies of the document is prudent. While digital copies stored securely on your devices offer convenience, having physical copies ensures redundancy, safeguarding your interests against unexpected events.
How to Sell a Documented Vessel
If your vessel has been documented with the USCG, you can’t sell it with a bill of sale. Instead, you have to use the “Transfer of Ownership” form at our site. We offer that form, yes. But, we also offer a comprehensive repository of all the forms essential for every stage of vessel ownership.
Whether you require initial documentation, renewal, replacement, reinstatement, deletion, or any other form, our catalog is replete with the documents that ensure your compliance with legal requirements. Our online repository provides a user-friendly interface so that you can complete these forms from anywhere.
To see how we can help, click here.
Can Every Boat Renew Their Documentation for Up to Five Years at Once?
No. Exclusively vessels with a "Recreational" endorsement are eligible for multi-year documentation renewal.
This allows vessel owners of recreational vessels to renew for up to five years at once. Commercial vessels, on the other hand, are required to renew their documentation annually.
This allows vessel owners of recreational vessels to renew for up to five years at once. Commercial vessels, on the other hand, are required to renew their documentation annually.
When Does a Certificate of Documentation Expire?
One Year From Issuance
From the date the COD is issued, vessel owners have one year to renew their documentation.
Vessel owners have the option to renew their documentation for up to five years in advance through our site.
Use this link for documented vessel renewal.
Find When a Documented Vessel’s COD Expires
Through the search function on our site, vessel owners can learn when a vessel’s COD will expire.
Use this link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
USCG Certificate of Documentation Laws
Here at the National Documentation Portal, we are committed to helping vessel owners from all over to quickly and easily find the documentation required for their vessels.
The laws listed below may be relevant to your case:
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
From the date the COD is issued, vessel owners have one year to renew their documentation.
Vessel owners have the option to renew their documentation for up to five years in advance through our site.
Use this link for documented vessel renewal.
Find When a Documented Vessel’s COD Expires
Through the search function on our site, vessel owners can learn when a vessel’s COD will expire.
Use this link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
USCG Certificate of Documentation Laws
Here at the National Documentation Portal, we are committed to helping vessel owners from all over to quickly and easily find the documentation required for their vessels.
The laws listed below may be relevant to your case:
67.5 Vessels eligible for documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States is eligible for documentation under this part. This includes, but is not limited to, vessels used exclusively for recreational purposes and vessels used in foreign trade.
67.7 Vessels requiring documentation.
Any vessel of at least five net tons which engages in the fisheries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or coastwise trade, unless exempt under § 67.9(c), must have a Certificate of Documentation bearing a valid endorsement appropriate for the activity in which engaged.
Subpart C—Citizenship Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.
Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.
67.31 Stock or equity interest requirements.
(a) The stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart encompass: title to all classes of stock; title to voting stock; and ownership of equity. An otherwise qualifying corporation or partnership may fail to meet stock or equity interest requirements because: Stock is subject to trust or fiduciary obligations in favor of non-citizens; non-citizens exercise, directly or indirectly, voting power; or non-citizens, by any means, exercise control over the entity. The applicable stock or equity interest requirement is not met if the amount of stock subject to obligations in favor of non-citizens, non-citizen voting power, or non-citizen control exceeds the percentage of the non-citizen interest permitted.
(b) For the purpose of stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart, control of non-fishing industry vessels includes an absolute right to: Direct corporate or partnership business; limit the actions of or replace the chief executive officer, a majority of the board of directors, or any general partner; direct the transfer or operations of any vessel owned by the corporation or partnership; or otherwise exercise authority over the business of the corporation or partnership. Control does not include the right to simply participate in these activities or the right to receive a financial return, e.g., interest or the equivalent of interest on a loan or other financing obligations.
(c) For the purpose of this section, control of a fishing industry vessel means having:
(1) The right to direct the business of the entity that owns the vessel;
(2) The right to limit the actions of or to replace the chief executive officer, the majority of the board of directors, any general partner, or any person serving in a management capacity of the entity that owns the vessel;
(3) The right to direct the transfer, the operation, or the manning of a vessel with a fishery endorsement.
(d) For purposes of meeting the stock or equity interest requirements for citizenship under this subpart where title to a vessel is held by an entity comprised, in whole or in part, of other entities which are not individuals, each entity contributing to the stock or equity interest qualifications of the entity holding title must be a citizen eligible to document vessels in its own right with the trade endorsement sought.
67.33 Individual.
An individual is a citizen if native-born, naturalized, or a derivative citizen of the United States, or otherwise qualifies as a United States citizen.
67.35 Partnership.
A partnership meets citizenship requirements if all its general partners are citizens, and:
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, at least 50 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership, at each tier of the partnership and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the partnership is owned by citizens or the vessel qualifies under § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.36 Trust.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or recreational endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) Each of its trustees is a citizen; and
(2) Each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a citizen.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust, at each tier of the trust and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a trust arrangement meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the equity interest in the trust is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
67.37 Association or joint venture.
(a) An association meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
(b) A joint venture meets citizenship requirements if each of its members is a citizen.
67.39 Corporation.
(a) For the purpose of obtaining a registry or a recreational endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It is incorporated under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Its chief executive officer, by whatever title, is a citizen;
(3) Its chairman of the board of directors is a citizen; and
(4) No more of its directors are non-citizens than a minority of the number necessary to constitute a quorum.
(b) For the purpose of obtaining a fishery endorsement, a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets all the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) At least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation, at each tier of the corporation and in the aggregate, is owned by citizens.
(c) For the purpose of obtaining a coastwise endorsement a corporation meets citizenship requirements if:
(1) It meets the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and at least 75 percent of the stock interest in the corporation is owned by citizens; or
(2) It meets the requirements of § 68.60 or § 68.105 of this chapter.
(d) A corporation which does not meet the stock interest requirement of paragraph (c) of this section may qualify for limited coastwise trading privileges by meeting the requirements of part 68 of this chapter.
67.41 Governmental entity.
A governmental entity is a citizen for the purpose of obtaining a vessel document if it is an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of the government of a State as defined in § 67.3.
67.43 Evidence of citizenship.
When received by the Coast Guard, a properly completed original Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) establishes a rebuttable presumption that the applicant is a United States citizen.
67.47 Requirement for Maritime Administration approval.
(a) The following transactions, among others, require approval of the Maritime Administration in accordance with 46 CFR part 221:
(1) Placement of the vessel under foreign registry;
(2) Operation of the vessel under the authority of a foreign country; and
(3) Sale or transfer of an interest in or control of the vessel from a citizen of the United States to a person not a citizen of the United States, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 50501.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation may not be issued for a vessel which subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation has undergone any transaction listed in paragraph (a) of this section, even if the owner meets the citizenship requirements of this subpart, unless evidence is provided that the Maritime Administration approved the transaction.
(c) The restriction imposed by paragraph (b) of this section does not apply to a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
Subpart D—Title Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.50 Requirement for title evidence.
The owner of a vessel must present title evidence in accordance with one of the methods specified in this subpart:
(a) When application is made for a coastwise endorsement for a vessel which has not previously been qualified for such endorsement;
(b) For initial documentation of a vessel;
(c) When the ownership of a documented vessel changes in whole or in part;
(d) When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution, without dissolution of the partnership; or
(e) When a vessel which has been deleted from documentation is returned to documentation and there has been an intervening change in ownership.
67.53 Methods of establishing title.
Title to a vessel may be established through one of the following methods:
(a) Simplified method without evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes chain of title from that registration to the present owner.
(b) Simplified method with evidence of build. The owner must produce a copy of the last registration of the vessel (State, Federal, or foreign) and evidence which establishes the chain of title from that registration to the present owner along with evidence of the facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part.
(c) Complete chain of title, without evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner.
(d) Complete chain of title, with evidence of citizenship for each entity in that chain of title. The owner must provide evidence which establishes:
(1) The facts of build in accordance with subpart F of this part; and
(2) A complete chain of title for the vessel from the person for whom the vessel was built to the present owner, accompanied by competent and persuasive evidence establishing the citizenship of each entity in the chain of title.
67.55 Requirement for removal from foreign registry.
The owner of a vessel must present evidence of removal of the vessel from foreign registry whenever:
(a) The owner applies for initial documentation of a vessel that has at any time been registered under the laws of a foreign country; or
(b) The owner applies for reentry into documentation of a vessel that had been registered under the laws of a foreign country since it was last documented under the laws of the United States.
67.57 Extent of title evidence required for initial documentation.
(a) Vessels never registered under any system:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the owner for whom it was built is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99. Any other applicant must present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c) or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, the only title evidence required for a vessel being documented by the first owner of the vessel is the certification of the builder (form CG–1261) described in § 67.99, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Any other applicant must also present title evidence in accordance with either paragraph (c)(2) or (d)(2) of § 67.53.
Note:
Manufacturer's Certificates of Origin are sometimes used as shipping documents for vessels, and may recite as the first owner a person other than the person for which the vessel was built. Therefore, a chain of title which begins with a Certificate of Origin will be deemed incomplete.
(b) Vessels previously registered under the laws of a State or a foreign government:
(1) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with § 67.53(d).
(2) Where a fishery endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
(3) Where a registry or recreational endorsement is sought, title evidence must be presented in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) of § 67.53.
67.59 Extent of title evidence required for change in ownership of a documented vessel.
When the ownership of a documented vessel changes, in whole or in part, the applicant for documentation must present:
(a) Title evidence in accordance with subpart E of this part to reflect all ownership changes subsequent to the last issuance of a Certificate of Documentation; and
(b) Where a registry, fishery, or recreational endorsement is sought, evidence of the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented except for a vessel:
(1) Identified in § 67.11(b); or
(2) For which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale under 46 CFR part 221.
(c) Where a coastwise endorsement is sought, evidence establishing the citizenship of all owners subsequent to the last owner for whom the vessel was documented with a coastwise endorsement, if such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard. If the vessel has never been documented with a coastwise endorsement, evidence must be presented to establish the citizenship of each owner of the vessel for whom such evidence is not already on file with the Coast Guard.
67.61 Extent of title evidence required for vessels returning to documentation.
(a) When the owner of a vessel which has been deleted from documentation applies to have the vessel returned to documentation, the owner must, except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, provide evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under documentation, and citizenship evidence for all owners in that chain of title.
(b) When a vessel is returned to documentation after having been under foreign registry, the owner must provide a copy of the last foreign registry, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under foreign registry. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
(c) The owner of a vessel identified in § 67.11(b) or for which the Maritime Administration has granted approval for transfer or sale, either by written order or by general approval in 46 CFR part 221, and which was under a State or Federal registration or titling system, must provide a copy of the last registration or title, the evidence of removal from foreign registry required by § 67.55, if applicable, and evidence establishing the complete chain of title from the last owner under such registry or title. No citizenship evidence need be provided for owners in that chain of title.
Note:
Although vessels returned to documentation without a complete chain of title are not eligible for a coastwise endorsement, this does not preclude such an endorsement if the chain of title, with citizenship evidence, is completed at a later date.
Subpart E—Acceptable Title Evidence; Waiver
67.70 Original owner.
The builder's certification described in § 67.99 serves as evidence of the original owner's title to a vessel.
67.73 Transfers prior to documentation.
A transfer of vessel title prior to documentation may be evidenced by:
(a) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the builder's certification on form CG–1261;
(b) Completion of the transfer information on the reverse of the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; or
(c) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part.
67.75 Transfers by sale or donation subsequent to documentation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, transfers of vessel title must be evidenced by a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part. Except as otherwise provided in subpart O of this part, each bill of sale must be accompanied by a declaration of citizenship from the new owner, executed on the appropriate Maritime Administration form described in § 67.211.
(b) The bill of sale form used may be form CG–1340 or form CG–1356, as appropriate.
(c) An applicant for documentation who cannot produce required title evidence in the form of an instrument eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart P of this part may apply for a waiver of that requirement in accordance with the provisions of § 67.89.
67.77 Passage of title by court action.
(a) When title to a vessel has passed by court action, that passage must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
(b) When authority to transfer a vessel has been conferred by court action, that authority must be established by copies of the relevant court order(s) certified by an official of the court.
67.79 Passage of title without court action following death of owner.
(a) When title to a vessel formerly owned in whole or in part by an individual now deceased passes without court action, an applicant for documentation must present:
(1) When title passes to a surviving joint tenant or tenants or to a tenant by the entirety, a copy of the death certificate, certified by an appropriate State official; or
(2) Where the laws of cognizant jurisdiction permit passage of title without court action, evidence of compliance with applicable State law.
(b) Passage of title subsequent to devolutions such as those described in paragraph (a) of this section, must be established in accordance with the remainder of this subpart.
67.81 Passage of title in conjunction with a corporate merger or similar transaction.
When the title to a vessel has passed as the result of a corporate merger or similar transaction wherein the assets of one corporation have been transferred to another, the passage of title must be established by:
(a) Materials, such as a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of the corporation which held title to the vessel before the transaction, which either unequivocally transfers all of the assets of the corporation or which specifically identifies the vessel as being among the assets transferred; and
(b) In jurisdictions where there is an official recognition of corporate mergers and similar transactions, a copy of such official recognition certified by the cognizant official of that jurisdiction.
67.83 Passage of title by extra-judicial repossession and sale.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by reason of an extra-judicial repossession and sale, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the instrument under which foreclosure was made;
(b) An affidavit from the foreclosing party setting forth the reasons for foreclosure, the chronology of foreclosure, the statute(s) under which foreclosure was made, and the steps taken to comply with the relevant instrument and statute(s);
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant instrument and statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part from the foreclosing party as agent for the defaulting owner(s).
67.85 Change in general partners of partnership.
When the general partners of a partnership owning a documented vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution without dissolution of the partnership, the change must be established by a written statement from a surviving general partner detailing the nature of the change.
67.87 Change of legal name of owner.
(a) When the name of a corporation which owns a documented vessel changes, the corporation must present certification from the appropriate governmental agency evidencing registration of the name change.
(b) When the name of an individual who owns a documented vessel changes for any reason, competent and persuasive evidence establishing the change must be provided.
67.89 Waiver of production of a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording.
(a) When the evidence of title passage required by this subpart is a bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording set forth in subpart P of this part, and the applicant is unable to produce a bill of sale meeting those criteria, the applicant may request that the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center waive that requirement.
(b) No waiver of the requirement to produce a bill of sale eligible for filing and recording may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written statement detailing the reasons why an instrument meeting the filing and recording criteria of this part cannot be obtained; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the passage of title.
67.91 Passage of title pursuant to operation of State law.
When title to a documented vessel has passed by operation of State law for reasons other than those specified in this subpart, such passage must be established by:
(a) A copy of the statute permitting transfer of title to the vessel and setting forth procedures to be followed in disposing of the vessel;
(b) An affidavit from the party acting against the vessel, setting forth the basis for selling the vessel, and the steps taken to comply with the requirements of the statute under which title passes;
(c) Evidence of substantial compliance with the relevant statute(s); and
(d) A bill of sale which meets the criteria for filing and recording from the acting party as agent for the owner(s) of record.
Note:
State law authorizing a marina to dispose of abandoned vessels is an example of passage of title by operation of law contemplated by § 67.91.
Subpart F—Build Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.95 Requirement for determination.
Evidence that a vessel was built in the United States must be on file for any vessel for which a coastwise or fishery endorsement is sought, unless the vessel is otherwise qualified for those endorsements/
67.97 United States built.
To be considered built in the United States a vessel must meet both of the following criteria:
(a) All major components of its hull and superstructure are fabricated in the United States; and
(b) The vessel is assembled entirely in the United States.
67.99 Evidence of build.
(a) Evidence of the facts of build may be either a completed original form CG–1261, or other original document containing the same information, executed by a person having personal knowledge of the facts of build because that person:
(1) Constructed the vessel;
(2) Supervised the actual construction of the vessel; or
(3) Is an officer or employee of the company which built the vessel and has examined the records of the company concerning the facts of build of the vessel.
(b) A vessel owner applying for documentation must file a separate certificate from each builder involved in the construction of the vessel.
(c) A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin is not evidence of the facts of build.
67.101 Waiver of evidence of build.
(a) A vessel owner applying for documentation unable to obtain the evidence of build required by § 67.99 may apply for a waiver of that requirement to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) No waiver of the requirement in § 67.99 to produce evidence of build may be granted unless the applicant provides:
(1) A written request for the waiver, explaining why the evidence required by § 67.99 cannot be furnished; and
(2) Competent and persuasive evidence of the facts of build.
Subpart G—Tonnage and Dimension Requirements for Vessel Documentation
67.105 Requirement for determination.
The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel must be determined:
(a) For initial documentation;
(b) Whenever there is a change in the gross or net tonnage or dimensions of a documented vessel; or
(c) When the gross or net tonnage of a vessel returning to documentation has changed since the vessel was last documented.
67.107 System of measurement; evidence.
(a) The gross and net tonnage and dimensions of a vessel for purposes of this part are determined in accordance with 46 CFR part 69.
(b) A certificate of measurement issued by an authorized official is the only acceptable evidence of the gross and net tonnage of a vessel measured in accordance with subpart B, C, or D of 46 CFR part 69. A certificate of measurement is not issued for vessels measured under subpart E of 46 CFR part 69 since the gross and net tonnage are determined as part of the documentation process.
Subpart H—Assignments and Designations Required for Vessel Documentation
67.111 Assignment of official number.
(a) The owner of a vessel must submit an Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, to apply for an official number for the vessel when:
(1) Application is made for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) An existing vessel has been severed, with two or more vessels resulting. In this case, the official number of the original vessel is retired and the owner of each resulting vessel must apply for designation of a new official number.
(b) Upon receipt of form CG–1258, the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center will have an official number assigned to the vessel and furnish it to the vessel owner.
67.113 Managing owner designation; address; requirement to report change of address.
The owner of each vessel must designate a managing owner on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (CG–1258).
(a) The managing owner of a vessel owned by one person is the owner of the vessel.
(b) The managing owner of a vessel owned by more than one person must be one of the owners. The person designated as managing owner must have an address in the United States except where no owner of the vessel has an address in the United States.
(c) The managing owner of a vessel owned in a trust arrangement must be one of the trustees.
(d) The address of the managing owner must be as follows:
(1) For an individual, any residence of the managing owner.
(2) For a partnership, its address:
(i) In the State under whose laws it is organized; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(3) For a corporation, its address:
(i) For service of process within the State of incorporation; or
(ii) Of its principal place of business.
(e) Whenever the address of the managing owner changes, the managing owner shall notify the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days.
67.117 Vessel name designation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must designate a name for the vessel on the Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG–1258) submitted to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center:
(1) Upon application for initial documentation of the vessel; or
(2) When the owner elects to change the name of the vessel.
(b) The name designated:
(1) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals;
(2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and
(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.
(c) The name of a documented vessel may not be changed without the prior approval of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(d) Until such time as the owner of a vessel elects to change the name of a vessel, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section do not apply to vessels validly documented before January 1, 1994.
67.119 Hailing port designation.
(a) Upon application for any Certificate of Documentation, the owner of a vessel must designate a hailing port to be marked upon the vessel.
(b) The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC.
(c) The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located.
(d) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center has final authority to settle disputes as to the propriety of the hailing port designated.
(e) Until such time as the vessel owner elects to designate a new hailing port, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section do not apply to vessels which were issued a Certificate of Documentation before July 1, 1982.
How do I obtain title information for a documented vessel?
You may obtain an Abstract of Title which will show all bills of sale, mortgages, and notices of claim of lien filed and recorded by the Coast Guard. You may request an Abstract by navigating to the following page: Abstract of Title