General Vessel Documentation Questions
How Can I Find When a Vessel’s Certificate of Documentation Was Issued?
A Vessel Documentation Search
The search function at our site can tell you when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued. You can also find out when it will expire, what a vessel’s endorsement/service are, its tonnage, dimensions, and more.
The following link enables a vessel documentation search.
Vessel Documentation Search Laws and Others
At the National Documentation Portal, we help vessel owners, regardless of their background, easily find and submit the vessel documentation they require for their vessels.
These laws may apply to your circumstances:
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 search function at our site can tell you when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued. You can also find out when it will expire, what a vessel’s endorsement/service are, its tonnage, dimensions, and more.
The following link enables a vessel documentation search.
Vessel Documentation Search Laws and Others
At the National Documentation Portal, we help vessel owners, regardless of their background, easily find and submit the vessel documentation they require for their vessels.
These laws may apply to your circumstances:
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.
Do Documented Vessels Require Registration in New Hampshire?
In all likelihood yes. Your Coast Guard documented vessel will probably have to be documented in New Hampshire.
According to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, “any boat operated on the public waters of New Hampshire, including tidal and coastal waters and all inland waters, must be registered and must display the bow number issued by the DMV as part of the registration process, unless the boat is exempt as provided in RSA 270-E:4.
RSA 270-E:4 goes on to say:
“The following vessels shall be exempt from registration in this state (New Hampshire):
Sailboats under 12 feet in length, rowboats and canoes powered by sail, oars, paddles, or other human power. Any vessel which has an inboard or outboard motor shall not be exempt from registration except as provided in paragraph II.
Vessel registration in another state or country temporarily using the waters of this state for not more than 30 consecutive days.
Vessels owned or operated by the United States government.
Use this link to file for your initial vessel documentation through our site.
Boat Documentation Through Our Portal
Through our site, interested parties can apply for federal documentation for their vessel.
This vessel documentation provides for unhindered commerce between states, admits vessels to restricted trades (such as the fisheries and coastwise trade), and provides conclusive evidence of nationality.
Vessels that are documented do not have titles. Instead, they maintain Certificates of Documentation. Depending on the laws in your state, your vessel may need to be registered with the state as well.
Coast Guard Boat Documentation Renewal, Transfer
Coast Guard vessel documentation has to be renewed every year. However, this can be renewed for 1-5 years from the date of issuance. Vessel owners can use this link to renew vessel documentation.
Vessel financing has been enhanced through the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels since 1920.
For a recently purchased vessel that already has a documented vessel number, use this form for a Transfer Exchange of USCG Documentation.
If you have further questions about American vessel documentation, contact the National Documentation Portal at info@nvdcrenewal.us or (866) 343-0530 Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Coast Guard Boat 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 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.
What is a preferred mortgage?
A preferred mortgage is a mortgage which is given status as a maritime lien. As such it enjoys a certain priority in the event of default. In addition, the Coast Guard is prohibited from making certain changes in documentation including, but not limited to, change of vessel ownership, name, and hailing port without consent of the mortgagee. For this reason many financial institutions require vessels which are eligible for documentation to be documented and to have preferred mortgages recorded against them.
Can NVDC Renewal Help If My Vessel Documentation Has Already Expired?
Yes. You can use this link to apply for reinstatement.
If your vessel documentation has expired, you may be concerned about the next steps to regain compliance. Here at the National Documentation Portal, we assist vessel owners in managing documentation renewals, including expired certificates.
If your vessel documentation has expired, you may be concerned about the next steps to regain compliance. Here at the National Documentation Portal, we assist vessel owners in managing documentation renewals, including expired certificates.
Renewing Your Certificate of Documentation
Must I submit my application by mail?
No, your initial vessel documentation application (or any other) may be submitted and paid for by filling out your desired application through the convenient online portal. The online portal is far more advantageous as it is not subject to delays caused by submitting your application(s) in by mail.
What is Vessel Documentation?
Vessel documentation is a national form of registration. It is one of the oldest functions of Government, dating back to the 11th Act of the First Congress. Documentation provides conclusive evidence of nationality for international purposes, provides for unhindered commerce between the states, and admits vessels to certain restricted trades, such as coastwise trade and the fisheries. Since 1920, vessel financing has been enhanced through the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels.
For more information, please call: 1-866-343-0530 or email: info@nvdcrenewal.us
For more information, please call: 1-866-343-0530 or email: info@nvdcrenewal.us
Can I Renew My Vessel Documentation for Multiple Years at Once?
Yes, You Can - If Your Vessel Has a Recreational Endorsement
If your vessel is endorsed for "Recreational" use, you may renew its documentation for up to five years in advance through our site. As long as your vessel is strictly used for recreational purposes, this option is available.
For commercial vessels or those with endorsements other than "Recreational," documentation must be renewed every year.
Click here for USCG COD renewal.
Click here to apply for vessel documentation online.
More Than USCG COD Renewal with the National Documentation Portal
At the National Documentation Portal, you can renew documentation, secure initial COD, replace lost documents, request an Abstract of Title, or conduct a documentation search. Managing your vessel documentation has never been easier.
Review applicable laws below to better understand vessel registration:
67.317 Requirement to renew endorsements on the Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and except for recreational endorsements, which can be renewed for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years, the owner of a documented vessel must annually renew each endorsement upon the current Certificate of Documentation for that vessel in accordance with § 67.163.
(b) The requirement of paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to Certificates of Documentation placed on deposit in accordance with § 67.165.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021; USCG-2023-0305, 88 FR 77902, Nov. 14, 2023]
67.319 Requirement to report change in vessel status and surrender Certificate of Documentation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must notify the Coast Guard of each change in the information on which the issuance of the Certificate of Documentation for the vessel is based that occurs before the expiration of the certificate under this subsection, by no later than 30 days after such change.
(b) The Certificate of Documentation for a vessel is terminated upon the expiration of the 30-day period if the owner has not notified the Coast Guard of such change before the end of the period.
[USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
67.321 Requirement to report change of address of managing owner.
Upon the change of address of the managing owner of a documented vessel, the managing owner shall report the change of address to the National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days of its occurrence.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49847, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.323 Operation without documentation.
No vessel which is required by § 67.7 to be documented may engage in unlimited coastwise trade or the fisheries without being documented in accordance with the requirements 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]
67.325 Violation of endorsement.
A vessel may not be employed in any trade other than a trade endorsed upon the Certificate of Documentation issued for that vessel. A vessel documented exclusively for recreation may not be used for purposes other than pleasure.
67.327 Operation under Certificate of Documentation with invalid endorsement.
Except for vessels identified in § 67.9, no vessel may be operated under a Certificate of Documentation with endorsements which have become invalid under subpart L of this part.
67.329 Unauthorized name change.
The owner of a documented vessel may not change or allow the change of the name of that vessel without exchanging the vessel's Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. The new name of the vessel must be marked on the vessel upon receipt of the new Certificate of Documentation.
67.331 Improper markings.
The owner of a documented vessel shall not permit the operation of that vessel unless it is marked in accordance with subpart I of this part.
Subpart V—Exception From Fishery Endorsement Requirements Due to Conflict With International Agreements
Source:USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76576, Dec. 7, 2000, unless otherwise noted.
67.350 Conflicts with international agreements.
(a) If you are an owner or mortgagee of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length and believe that there is a conflict between 46 CFR part 67 and any international treaty or agreement to which the United States is a party on October 1, 2001, and to which the United States is currently a party, you may petition the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) for a ruling that all or sections of part 67 do not apply to you with respect to a particular vessel, provided that you had an ownership interest in the vessel or a mortgage on the vessel on October 1, 2001. You may file your petition with the NVDC before October 1, 2001, with respect to international treaties or agreements in effect at the time of your petition which are not scheduled to expire before October 1, 2001.
(b) If you are filing a petition for exemption with the NVDC for reasons stated in paragraph (a) of this section, your petition must include:
(1) Evidence of the ownership structure of the vessel petitioning for an exemption as of October 1, 2001, and any subsequent changes to the ownership structure of the vessel;
(i) If you are filing your petition before October 1, 2001, you may substitute evidence of the ownership structure as it exists on the date you file your petition;
(2) A copy of the provisions of the international agreement or treaty that you believe is in conflict with this part;
(3) A detailed description of how the provisions of the international agreement or treaty conflict with this part;
(4) For all petitions filed before October 1, 2001, a certification that the owner intends to transfer no ownership interest in the vessel to a non-U.S. citizen for the following year.
(5) For all petitions filed after October 1, 2001, a certification that no ownership interest was transferred to a non-U.S. citizen after September 30, 2001.
(c) You must file a separate petition for each vessel requiring an exemption unless the NVDC authorizes consolidated filing. Petitions should include two copies of all required materials and should be sent to the following address: National Vessel Documentation Center, 792 TJ Jackson Drive, Falling Water, West Virginia, 25419.
(d) Upon receipt of a complete petition, the NVDC will review the petition to determine whether the effective international treaty or agreement and the requirements of this part are in conflict. If the NVDC determines that this part conflicts with the effective international treaty or agreement, then the NVDC will inform you of the guidelines and requirements you must meet and maintain to qualify for a fisheries endorsement.
(e) If the vessel is determined through the petition process to be exempt from all or sections of the requirements of this part, then you must annually, from the date of exemption, submit the following evidence of its ownership structure to the NVDC:
(1) The vessel's current ownership structure;
(2) The identity of all non-citizen owners and the percentages of their ownership interest in the vessel;
(3) Any changes in the ownership structure that have occurred since you last submitted evidence of the vessel's ownership structure to the NVDC; and
(4) A statement ensuring that no interest in the vessel was transferred to a non-citizen during the previous year.
67.352 Applicability.
The exemption in this subpart shall not be available to:
(a) Owners and mortgagees of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length who acquired an interest in the vessel after October 1, 2001; or
(b) Owners of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length, if any ownership interest in that vessel is transferred to or otherwise acquired by a non-U.S. citizen after October 1, 2001.
Subparts W-X [Reserved]
Subpart Y—Fees
67.500 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies documentation services provided for vessels for which fees are applicable. No documentation service for which a fee is applicable will be performed until the appropriate fee has been paid. Fees are contained in Table 67.550.
(b) There is no fee for replacement of a Certificate of Documentation due to a wrongful withholding.
(c) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center may waive collection of fees applicable under this subpart for a service provided to a Federal agency when the fee would be directly paid with federally-appropriated funds by a Federal agency acting in its own behalf.
(d) Application fees under this subpart are not refundable.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; CGD 95-070, 60 FR 40241, Aug. 7, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014]
67.501 Application for Certificate of Documentation.
An application fee is charged for an initial Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for the Certificate. The application fee does not include the fee under § 67.527 for filing and recording any required bills of sale or instruments in the nature of a bill of sale, or the application fee under § 67.519 for waivers in accordance with §§ 67.89 or 67.101.
67.503 Application for exchange or replacement of a Certificate of Documentation.
(a) An application fee is charged for exchange or the simultaneous exchange and replacement of a Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. Only a single application fee will be assessed when two or more reasons for exchange occur simultaneously. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for the exchange or replacement.
(b) The application fee for exchange or replacement does not apply to:
(1) Endorsement of a change in the owner's address;
(2) Exchange or replacement solely by reason of clerical error on the part of a documentation officer; or
(3) Deletion of a vessel from documentation.
67.505 Application for return of vessel to documentation.
An application fee is charged for a return of a vessel to documentation after deletion in accordance with subpart K of this part. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for return to documentation.
67.507 Application for replacement of lost or mutilated Certificate of Documentation.
An application fee is charged for replacement of a lost or mutilated Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part.
67.509 Application for approval of exchange of Certificate of Documentation requiring mortgagee consent.
An application fee is charged for approval of exchange of a Certificate of Documentation requiring mortgagee consent in accordance with subpart K of this part.
67.511 Application for trade endorsement(s).
(a) Coastwise endorsement. An application fee is charged for a coastwise endorsement, in accordance with subpart B of this part.
(b) Coastwise Bowaters endorsement. An application fee is charged for a coastwise Bowaters endorsement in accordance with 46 CFR part 68.
(c) Fishery endorsement. An application fee is charged for a fishery endorsement in accordance with subpart B of this part.
(d) Registry or recreational endorsement. There is no application fee for a registry or recreational endorsement, or both.
(e) When multiple trade endorsements are requested on the same application, only the single highest applicable endorsement fee will be charged.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.513 Application for evidence of deletion from documentation.
An application fee is charged for evidence of deletion from documentation in accordance with subpart L of this part.
67.515 Application for renewal of endorsements.
An application fee is charged for renewal of endorsements on Certificates of Documentation in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
67.517 Application for late renewal.
In addition to any other fees required by this subpart, including a renewal fee, a fee is charged for a late renewal in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014]
If your vessel is endorsed for "Recreational" use, you may renew its documentation for up to five years in advance through our site. As long as your vessel is strictly used for recreational purposes, this option is available.
For commercial vessels or those with endorsements other than "Recreational," documentation must be renewed every year.
Click here for USCG COD renewal.
Click here to apply for vessel documentation online.
More Than USCG COD Renewal with the National Documentation Portal
At the National Documentation Portal, you can renew documentation, secure initial COD, replace lost documents, request an Abstract of Title, or conduct a documentation search. Managing your vessel documentation has never been easier.
Review applicable laws below to better understand vessel registration:
67.317 Requirement to renew endorsements on the Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and except for recreational endorsements, which can be renewed for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years, the owner of a documented vessel must annually renew each endorsement upon the current Certificate of Documentation for that vessel in accordance with § 67.163.
(b) The requirement of paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to Certificates of Documentation placed on deposit in accordance with § 67.165.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021; USCG-2023-0305, 88 FR 77902, Nov. 14, 2023]
67.319 Requirement to report change in vessel status and surrender Certificate of Documentation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must notify the Coast Guard of each change in the information on which the issuance of the Certificate of Documentation for the vessel is based that occurs before the expiration of the certificate under this subsection, by no later than 30 days after such change.
(b) The Certificate of Documentation for a vessel is terminated upon the expiration of the 30-day period if the owner has not notified the Coast Guard of such change before the end of the period.
[USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
67.321 Requirement to report change of address of managing owner.
Upon the change of address of the managing owner of a documented vessel, the managing owner shall report the change of address to the National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days of its occurrence.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49847, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.323 Operation without documentation.
No vessel which is required by § 67.7 to be documented may engage in unlimited coastwise trade or the fisheries without being documented in accordance with the requirements 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]
67.325 Violation of endorsement.
A vessel may not be employed in any trade other than a trade endorsed upon the Certificate of Documentation issued for that vessel. A vessel documented exclusively for recreation may not be used for purposes other than pleasure.
67.327 Operation under Certificate of Documentation with invalid endorsement.
Except for vessels identified in § 67.9, no vessel may be operated under a Certificate of Documentation with endorsements which have become invalid under subpart L of this part.
67.329 Unauthorized name change.
The owner of a documented vessel may not change or allow the change of the name of that vessel without exchanging the vessel's Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. The new name of the vessel must be marked on the vessel upon receipt of the new Certificate of Documentation.
67.331 Improper markings.
The owner of a documented vessel shall not permit the operation of that vessel unless it is marked in accordance with subpart I of this part.
Subpart V—Exception From Fishery Endorsement Requirements Due to Conflict With International Agreements
Source:USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76576, Dec. 7, 2000, unless otherwise noted.
67.350 Conflicts with international agreements.
(a) If you are an owner or mortgagee of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length and believe that there is a conflict between 46 CFR part 67 and any international treaty or agreement to which the United States is a party on October 1, 2001, and to which the United States is currently a party, you may petition the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) for a ruling that all or sections of part 67 do not apply to you with respect to a particular vessel, provided that you had an ownership interest in the vessel or a mortgage on the vessel on October 1, 2001. You may file your petition with the NVDC before October 1, 2001, with respect to international treaties or agreements in effect at the time of your petition which are not scheduled to expire before October 1, 2001.
(b) If you are filing a petition for exemption with the NVDC for reasons stated in paragraph (a) of this section, your petition must include:
(1) Evidence of the ownership structure of the vessel petitioning for an exemption as of October 1, 2001, and any subsequent changes to the ownership structure of the vessel;
(i) If you are filing your petition before October 1, 2001, you may substitute evidence of the ownership structure as it exists on the date you file your petition;
(2) A copy of the provisions of the international agreement or treaty that you believe is in conflict with this part;
(3) A detailed description of how the provisions of the international agreement or treaty conflict with this part;
(4) For all petitions filed before October 1, 2001, a certification that the owner intends to transfer no ownership interest in the vessel to a non-U.S. citizen for the following year.
(5) For all petitions filed after October 1, 2001, a certification that no ownership interest was transferred to a non-U.S. citizen after September 30, 2001.
(c) You must file a separate petition for each vessel requiring an exemption unless the NVDC authorizes consolidated filing. Petitions should include two copies of all required materials and should be sent to the following address: National Vessel Documentation Center, 792 TJ Jackson Drive, Falling Water, West Virginia, 25419.
(d) Upon receipt of a complete petition, the NVDC will review the petition to determine whether the effective international treaty or agreement and the requirements of this part are in conflict. If the NVDC determines that this part conflicts with the effective international treaty or agreement, then the NVDC will inform you of the guidelines and requirements you must meet and maintain to qualify for a fisheries endorsement.
(e) If the vessel is determined through the petition process to be exempt from all or sections of the requirements of this part, then you must annually, from the date of exemption, submit the following evidence of its ownership structure to the NVDC:
(1) The vessel's current ownership structure;
(2) The identity of all non-citizen owners and the percentages of their ownership interest in the vessel;
(3) Any changes in the ownership structure that have occurred since you last submitted evidence of the vessel's ownership structure to the NVDC; and
(4) A statement ensuring that no interest in the vessel was transferred to a non-citizen during the previous year.
67.352 Applicability.
The exemption in this subpart shall not be available to:
(a) Owners and mortgagees of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length who acquired an interest in the vessel after October 1, 2001; or
(b) Owners of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length, if any ownership interest in that vessel is transferred to or otherwise acquired by a non-U.S. citizen after October 1, 2001.
Subparts W-X [Reserved]
Subpart Y—Fees
67.500 Applicability.
(a) This subpart specifies documentation services provided for vessels for which fees are applicable. No documentation service for which a fee is applicable will be performed until the appropriate fee has been paid. Fees are contained in Table 67.550.
(b) There is no fee for replacement of a Certificate of Documentation due to a wrongful withholding.
(c) The Director, National Vessel Documentation Center may waive collection of fees applicable under this subpart for a service provided to a Federal agency when the fee would be directly paid with federally-appropriated funds by a Federal agency acting in its own behalf.
(d) Application fees under this subpart are not refundable.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; CGD 95-070, 60 FR 40241, Aug. 7, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014]
67.501 Application for Certificate of Documentation.
An application fee is charged for an initial Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for the Certificate. The application fee does not include the fee under § 67.527 for filing and recording any required bills of sale or instruments in the nature of a bill of sale, or the application fee under § 67.519 for waivers in accordance with §§ 67.89 or 67.101.
67.503 Application for exchange or replacement of a Certificate of Documentation.
(a) An application fee is charged for exchange or the simultaneous exchange and replacement of a Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. Only a single application fee will be assessed when two or more reasons for exchange occur simultaneously. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for the exchange or replacement.
(b) The application fee for exchange or replacement does not apply to:
(1) Endorsement of a change in the owner's address;
(2) Exchange or replacement solely by reason of clerical error on the part of a documentation officer; or
(3) Deletion of a vessel from documentation.
67.505 Application for return of vessel to documentation.
An application fee is charged for a return of a vessel to documentation after deletion in accordance with subpart K of this part. If application is made for any trade endorsement, the applicable fee under § 67.511 will be charged in addition to the application fee for return to documentation.
67.507 Application for replacement of lost or mutilated Certificate of Documentation.
An application fee is charged for replacement of a lost or mutilated Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part.
67.509 Application for approval of exchange of Certificate of Documentation requiring mortgagee consent.
An application fee is charged for approval of exchange of a Certificate of Documentation requiring mortgagee consent in accordance with subpart K of this part.
67.511 Application for trade endorsement(s).
(a) Coastwise endorsement. An application fee is charged for a coastwise endorsement, in accordance with subpart B of this part.
(b) Coastwise Bowaters endorsement. An application fee is charged for a coastwise Bowaters endorsement in accordance with 46 CFR part 68.
(c) Fishery endorsement. An application fee is charged for a fishery endorsement in accordance with subpart B of this part.
(d) Registry or recreational endorsement. There is no application fee for a registry or recreational endorsement, or both.
(e) When multiple trade endorsements are requested on the same application, only the single highest applicable endorsement fee will be charged.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.513 Application for evidence of deletion from documentation.
An application fee is charged for evidence of deletion from documentation in accordance with subpart L of this part.
67.515 Application for renewal of endorsements.
An application fee is charged for renewal of endorsements on Certificates of Documentation in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
67.517 Application for late renewal.
In addition to any other fees required by this subpart, including a renewal fee, a fee is charged for a late renewal in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014]
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.
Can I Change from a Recreational Endorsement to a Fishing One?
Yes. You can change your endorsement at our portal.
Use the “Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator” form.
Use the form to choose the appropriate commercial endorsement for how you wish to use your vessel. For example, if you wish to engage in commercial fishing activities on the navigable waters of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone, select the “Fishery” endorsement.
Use the “Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator” form.
Use the form to choose the appropriate commercial endorsement for how you wish to use your vessel. For example, if you wish to engage in commercial fishing activities on the navigable waters of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone, select the “Fishery” endorsement.
Boat Name Change FAQs
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.
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
Why Makes a “Preferred Mortgage” Preferred?
A Preferred Mortgage Has Priority in Event of Default
A "Preferred Mortgage" has the status of a maritime lien.
As such, it is given priority in the event of a default. Moreover, without the mortgagee’s consent, the Coast Guard cannot make changes to the vessel's documentation, such as altering its name, hailing port, or ownership details.
Click here to apply for a First Preferred Ship Mortgage.
Click here to apply for a Release of Mortgage form.
A One-Stop Shop for First Preferred Ship Mortgage Information
From renewing documentation and applying for initial paperwork to replacing lost forms and conducting vessel searches, the National Documentation Portal offers streamlined solutions. You can also request an Abstract of Title or conduct an online search to gain detailed vessel information.
Remember, our site cannot comment on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Before applying for one, it is recommended that you speak to a maritime lawyer.
Refer to the legal guidelines below for further insights into your circumstances:
Subpart O—Filing and Recording of Instruments—General Provisions
67.200 Instruments eligible for filing and recording.
Only the following listed instruments are eligible for filing and recording:
(a) Bills of sale and instruments in the nature of bills of sale;
(b) Deeds of gift;
(c) Mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(d) Preferred mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(e) Interlender agreements affecting mortgages, preferred mortgages, and related instruments; and
(f) Notices of claim of lien, assignments, amendments, and satisfactions and releases thereof.
67.203 Restrictions on filing and recording.
(a) No instrument will be accepted for filing unless the vessel to which it pertains is the subject of:
(1) A valid Certificate of Documentation; or
(2) An application for initial documentation, exchange of Certificate of Documentation, return to documentation, or for deletion from documentation, which is in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations, submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may not be filed and recorded if it bears a material alteration.
(c) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 (a) or (b) may not be filed and recorded if any vendee or transferee under the instrument is not a citizen of the United States as defined in section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, (46 U.S.C. app. 802) unless the Maritime Administration has consented to the grant to a non-citizen made under the instrument.
(d) The restriction imposed by paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to a bill of sale or deed of gift conveying an interest in a vessel which was neither documented nor last documented pursuant to these regulations or any predecessor regulations thereto at the time the instrument was executed, nor to an instrument conveying an interest in a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.205 Requirement for vessel identification.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must contain sufficient information to clearly identify the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(b) Instruments pertaining to vessels which have been documented must contain the vessel's name and official number, or other unique identifier.
(c) Vessels which have never been documented must be identified by one of the following:
(1) The vessel's Hull Identification Number assigned in accordance with 33 CFR 181.25; or
(2) Other descriptive information, which clearly describes the vessel. Such information may include length, breadth, depth, year of build, name of manufacturer, and any numbers which may have been assigned in accordance with 33 CFR part 173.
67.207 Requirement for date and acknowledgment.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must:
(1) Bear the date of its execution; and
(2) Contain an acknowledgment.
(b) No officer or employee of the Coast Guard is authorized to take such acknowledgments unless the instrument is executed on behalf of the Federal Government of the United States.
67.209 No original instrument requirement.
A copy of the original signed and acknowledged instrument must be presented. The original instrument itself may be presented but is not required. The copy may be delivered to the National Vessel Documentation Center or transmitted by facsimile or in portable document format (.pdf) in accordance with the procedures in §§ 67.218 and 67.219 of this part. Signatures may be affixed manually or digitally.
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
67.211 Requirement for citizenship declaration.
(a) Instruments in the nature of a bill of sale or deed of gift, mortgages, and assignments of mortgages conveying an interest in a documented vessel are ineligible for filing and recording unless accompanied by a declaration of citizenship, except as provided in paragraph (c) and (d) of this section.
(b) Citizenship declarations must be executed on the form prescribed by the Maritime Administration in 46 CFR part 221. These forms are available from the National Vessel Documentation Center and from the Vessel Transfer and Disposal Officer (MAR-745.1), Maritime Administration, United States Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.
(c) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration does not apply to a transaction conveying an interest in a vessel:
(1) Described in 46 CFR 221.11(b)(1) (i) through (iv);
(2) To a person making application for documentation; or
(3) To an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of a State or political subdivision thereof, or a corporate entity which is an agency of any such government or political subdivision.
(d) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration is waived when the instrument(s) presented for filing effects a transfer for which:
(1) The Maritime Administration has given general approval in 46 CFR part 221; or
(2) Written approval of the Maritime Administrator has been obtained in accordance with 46 CFR part 221.
(e) If the transfer of interest is one which requires written approval of the Maritime Administrator in accordance with rules in 46 CFR part 221, evidence of that approval must be presented for filing with the instrument effecting the transfer of interest.
Note:
If the grantee(s) of an ownership interest in a vessel described in paragraphs (c)(1) or (d) of this section do(es) not make application for documentation, a declaration of citizenship may be required in order to ensure that the vessel so conveyed retains any coastwise privileges to which it may be entitled.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.213 Place of filing and recording.
(a) All instruments submitted for filing and recording must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) All instruments are recorded at the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.215 Date and time of filing.
(a) An instrument is deemed filed at the actual date and time at which the instrument is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Any materials submitted to supplement an instrument after the instrument is filed are deemed part of the original filing and relate back to the date and time of that filing.
(b) If filing of an instrument is subject to termination in accordance with § 67.217(a) and a new instrument is filed as a substitute for the original instrument, the filing of the original instrument will be terminated in accordance with § 67.217(c) and the substitute instrument will be considered a new filing. The substitute instrument will be deemed filed at the actual time and date it is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.217 Termination of filing and disposition of instruments.
(a) The filing of an instrument is subject to termination if:
(1) It is determined that the instrument cannot be recorded because the instrument itself is not in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations in this part;
(2) The filing was not made in compliance with the requirements of § 67.213;
(3) The Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted with the instrument(s) was not made in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations of this part;
(4) The owner of the vessel submits an Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593), with mortgagee consent, if applicable; or
(5) Another instrument is filed evidencing satisfaction or release of the subject instrument and the subject instrument is one described in subpart Q of this part.
(b) Ninety days prior to terminating the filing pursuant to a reason listed in paragraphs (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the National Vessel Documentation Center will send written notice detailing the reasons the filing is subject to termination to the following person(s) and any agent known to be acting on behalf of the same:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien; or
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument.
(c) If the reason(s) which subject the filing to termination remain uncorrected for a period of 90 days after the notice described in paragraph (b) of this section is sent, or upon receipt of the request for withdrawal described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or satisfaction or release as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the instrument will be returned to either:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien;
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument; or
(5) An agent for any appropriate party, provided that the agent has filed with the Coast Guard a writing bearing the original signature of the appropriate party(ies) clearly identifying the instrument(s) being returned and stating that the instrument(s) may be returned to the agent.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.218 Optional filing of instruments in portable document format as attachments to electronic mail.
(a) Any instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may be submitted in portable document format (.pdf) as an attachment to electronic mail (e-mail) for filing at the National Vessel Documentation Center. The e-mail address to be used for instrument filing may be obtained from the National Vessel Documentation Center Web site. If the instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format pertains to a vessel that is not a currently documented vessel, a completed Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement Certificate of Documentation, or Return to Documentation (form CG-1258) or a letter application for deletion from documentation must already be on file with the National Vessel Documentation Center or must be submitted in .pdf format with the instrument being submitted in .pdf format for filing.
(b) All instruments submitted for filing in .pdf format must be clearly legible, be submitted from 81⁄2 inch by 11 inch paper in not less than 10-point type size, and submitted as an attachment to e-mail.
(c) The e-mail required by paragraph (b) should indicate:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the person submitting the instrument for filing in .pdf format;
(2) The number of pages submitted for filing in .pdf format; and
(3) The name of the vessel, official number or hull identification number of the vessel(s), and the name(s) of the owner(s) of the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(d) The filing of any instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format is terminated and the instrument will be returned to the submitter if the instrument is subject to termination for any cause under § 67.217(a).
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
A "Preferred Mortgage" has the status of a maritime lien.
As such, it is given priority in the event of a default. Moreover, without the mortgagee’s consent, the Coast Guard cannot make changes to the vessel's documentation, such as altering its name, hailing port, or ownership details.
Click here to apply for a First Preferred Ship Mortgage.
Click here to apply for a Release of Mortgage form.
A One-Stop Shop for First Preferred Ship Mortgage Information
From renewing documentation and applying for initial paperwork to replacing lost forms and conducting vessel searches, the National Documentation Portal offers streamlined solutions. You can also request an Abstract of Title or conduct an online search to gain detailed vessel information.
Remember, our site cannot comment on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Before applying for one, it is recommended that you speak to a maritime lawyer.
Refer to the legal guidelines below for further insights into your circumstances:
Subpart O—Filing and Recording of Instruments—General Provisions
67.200 Instruments eligible for filing and recording.
Only the following listed instruments are eligible for filing and recording:
(a) Bills of sale and instruments in the nature of bills of sale;
(b) Deeds of gift;
(c) Mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(d) Preferred mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(e) Interlender agreements affecting mortgages, preferred mortgages, and related instruments; and
(f) Notices of claim of lien, assignments, amendments, and satisfactions and releases thereof.
67.203 Restrictions on filing and recording.
(a) No instrument will be accepted for filing unless the vessel to which it pertains is the subject of:
(1) A valid Certificate of Documentation; or
(2) An application for initial documentation, exchange of Certificate of Documentation, return to documentation, or for deletion from documentation, which is in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations, submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may not be filed and recorded if it bears a material alteration.
(c) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 (a) or (b) may not be filed and recorded if any vendee or transferee under the instrument is not a citizen of the United States as defined in section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, (46 U.S.C. app. 802) unless the Maritime Administration has consented to the grant to a non-citizen made under the instrument.
(d) The restriction imposed by paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to a bill of sale or deed of gift conveying an interest in a vessel which was neither documented nor last documented pursuant to these regulations or any predecessor regulations thereto at the time the instrument was executed, nor to an instrument conveying an interest in a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.205 Requirement for vessel identification.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must contain sufficient information to clearly identify the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(b) Instruments pertaining to vessels which have been documented must contain the vessel's name and official number, or other unique identifier.
(c) Vessels which have never been documented must be identified by one of the following:
(1) The vessel's Hull Identification Number assigned in accordance with 33 CFR 181.25; or
(2) Other descriptive information, which clearly describes the vessel. Such information may include length, breadth, depth, year of build, name of manufacturer, and any numbers which may have been assigned in accordance with 33 CFR part 173.
67.207 Requirement for date and acknowledgment.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must:
(1) Bear the date of its execution; and
(2) Contain an acknowledgment.
(b) No officer or employee of the Coast Guard is authorized to take such acknowledgments unless the instrument is executed on behalf of the Federal Government of the United States.
67.209 No original instrument requirement.
A copy of the original signed and acknowledged instrument must be presented. The original instrument itself may be presented but is not required. The copy may be delivered to the National Vessel Documentation Center or transmitted by facsimile or in portable document format (.pdf) in accordance with the procedures in §§ 67.218 and 67.219 of this part. Signatures may be affixed manually or digitally.
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
67.211 Requirement for citizenship declaration.
(a) Instruments in the nature of a bill of sale or deed of gift, mortgages, and assignments of mortgages conveying an interest in a documented vessel are ineligible for filing and recording unless accompanied by a declaration of citizenship, except as provided in paragraph (c) and (d) of this section.
(b) Citizenship declarations must be executed on the form prescribed by the Maritime Administration in 46 CFR part 221. These forms are available from the National Vessel Documentation Center and from the Vessel Transfer and Disposal Officer (MAR-745.1), Maritime Administration, United States Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.
(c) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration does not apply to a transaction conveying an interest in a vessel:
(1) Described in 46 CFR 221.11(b)(1) (i) through (iv);
(2) To a person making application for documentation; or
(3) To an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of a State or political subdivision thereof, or a corporate entity which is an agency of any such government or political subdivision.
(d) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration is waived when the instrument(s) presented for filing effects a transfer for which:
(1) The Maritime Administration has given general approval in 46 CFR part 221; or
(2) Written approval of the Maritime Administrator has been obtained in accordance with 46 CFR part 221.
(e) If the transfer of interest is one which requires written approval of the Maritime Administrator in accordance with rules in 46 CFR part 221, evidence of that approval must be presented for filing with the instrument effecting the transfer of interest.
Note:
If the grantee(s) of an ownership interest in a vessel described in paragraphs (c)(1) or (d) of this section do(es) not make application for documentation, a declaration of citizenship may be required in order to ensure that the vessel so conveyed retains any coastwise privileges to which it may be entitled.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.213 Place of filing and recording.
(a) All instruments submitted for filing and recording must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) All instruments are recorded at the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.215 Date and time of filing.
(a) An instrument is deemed filed at the actual date and time at which the instrument is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Any materials submitted to supplement an instrument after the instrument is filed are deemed part of the original filing and relate back to the date and time of that filing.
(b) If filing of an instrument is subject to termination in accordance with § 67.217(a) and a new instrument is filed as a substitute for the original instrument, the filing of the original instrument will be terminated in accordance with § 67.217(c) and the substitute instrument will be considered a new filing. The substitute instrument will be deemed filed at the actual time and date it is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.217 Termination of filing and disposition of instruments.
(a) The filing of an instrument is subject to termination if:
(1) It is determined that the instrument cannot be recorded because the instrument itself is not in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations in this part;
(2) The filing was not made in compliance with the requirements of § 67.213;
(3) The Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted with the instrument(s) was not made in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations of this part;
(4) The owner of the vessel submits an Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593), with mortgagee consent, if applicable; or
(5) Another instrument is filed evidencing satisfaction or release of the subject instrument and the subject instrument is one described in subpart Q of this part.
(b) Ninety days prior to terminating the filing pursuant to a reason listed in paragraphs (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the National Vessel Documentation Center will send written notice detailing the reasons the filing is subject to termination to the following person(s) and any agent known to be acting on behalf of the same:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien; or
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument.
(c) If the reason(s) which subject the filing to termination remain uncorrected for a period of 90 days after the notice described in paragraph (b) of this section is sent, or upon receipt of the request for withdrawal described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or satisfaction or release as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the instrument will be returned to either:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien;
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument; or
(5) An agent for any appropriate party, provided that the agent has filed with the Coast Guard a writing bearing the original signature of the appropriate party(ies) clearly identifying the instrument(s) being returned and stating that the instrument(s) may be returned to the agent.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.218 Optional filing of instruments in portable document format as attachments to electronic mail.
(a) Any instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may be submitted in portable document format (.pdf) as an attachment to electronic mail (e-mail) for filing at the National Vessel Documentation Center. The e-mail address to be used for instrument filing may be obtained from the National Vessel Documentation Center Web site. If the instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format pertains to a vessel that is not a currently documented vessel, a completed Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement Certificate of Documentation, or Return to Documentation (form CG-1258) or a letter application for deletion from documentation must already be on file with the National Vessel Documentation Center or must be submitted in .pdf format with the instrument being submitted in .pdf format for filing.
(b) All instruments submitted for filing in .pdf format must be clearly legible, be submitted from 81⁄2 inch by 11 inch paper in not less than 10-point type size, and submitted as an attachment to e-mail.
(c) The e-mail required by paragraph (b) should indicate:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the person submitting the instrument for filing in .pdf format;
(2) The number of pages submitted for filing in .pdf format; and
(3) The name of the vessel, official number or hull identification number of the vessel(s), and the name(s) of the owner(s) of the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(d) The filing of any instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format is terminated and the instrument will be returned to the submitter if the instrument is subject to termination for any cause under § 67.217(a).
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
Boat Registration FAQs
What Do I Have to Do With a Certificate of Documentation as a Boat Owner?
Keep the Certificate of Documentation on board your vessel at all times.
Failing to do so will put you in violation.
A Certificate of Documentation must remain on board a documented vessel according to 46 CFR 67.313.
That states, under “Requirement to have Certificate of Documentation on board,” that “the person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel.”
Additionally, that does not apply “to non-self-propelled vessels not engaged in foreign trade,” and “when the vessel is in storage or out of the water.”
Use this form to apply for initial USCG boat documentation.
This form can be used to renew boat documentation.
Boat Documentation Assistance from our Portal
Coast Guard vessel documentation has to be renewed every year. However, this can be renewed for 1-5 years from the date of issuance.
Vessel financing has been enhanced through the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels since 1920.
For a recently purchased vessel that already has a documented vessel number, use this form for a Transfer Exchange of USCG Documentation.
If you have a vessel’s Official Number or Hull Identification Number (HIN), you can conduct a vessel documentation search. This will give you a vessel’s dimensions, information about its flag, name, vessel documentation status, and more. It will not include any mortgages/liens against the vessel nor will it include any information about the vessel owner(s).
If you have further questions about American vessel documentation, contact the National Documentation Portal at info@nvdcrenewal.us or (866) 343-0530 Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
USCG Documentation Rules and Regulations
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 to Find When a Vessel’s Certificate of Documentation Issued?
Find Out Through a Vessel Documentation Search
Using a documentation search at our site, you can learn about when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued.
You can also learn when the certificate will expire, when the vessel was built, what the vessel’s endorsement/service is, its tonnage, and other information.
Use the following link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
Boat Documentation Search Rules and More to Know
The National Documentation Portal strives to ensure vessel owners from diverse backgrounds can easily locate and complete the vessel documentation they need.
The following laws could be pertinent to your situation:
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.
Using a documentation search at our site, you can learn about when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation was issued.
You can also learn when the certificate will expire, when the vessel was built, what the vessel’s endorsement/service is, its tonnage, and other information.
Use the following link to conduct a vessel documentation search.
Boat Documentation Search Rules and More to Know
The National Documentation Portal strives to ensure vessel owners from diverse backgrounds can easily locate and complete the vessel documentation they need.
The following laws could be pertinent to your situation:
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 Know if My Boat Measures Five Net Tons for Coast Guard Registration?
if your boat exceeds 26 feet in length, you can assume it measures at least five net tons. If so, that's one of the requirements for Coast Guard registration.
That’s because any vessel not undertaking commercial activities that has a net tonnage under five net tons does not need to be registered. In addition to other vital data, the volume of watercraft is vital when documenting its specs on an application or renewal. So how do you know if your boat qualifies for registration with the U.S. Coast Guard?
How is Volume Determined?
Tonnage is a unit of volume, rather than a unit of weight. Therefore, you won’t be loading your vessel onto a giant scale to see if it reaches the 5-ton requirement for U.S. Coast Guard registration. Rather, you’ll use the boat’s dimensions to calculate tonnage.
This method – known as the Simplified Measurement System – is endorsed by the US government.
Boats over 79 feet in length may require an alternate way to calculate net tonnage. However, for most vessels, you can use the basic mathematical guidelines below to get a good idea of what your boat’s net tonnage is.
How to Calculate Volume
To get an accurate volume for your boat, it’s necessary to measure from the bow to the stern and from the funnel to the keel. Then you can use those numbers to calculate tonnage. One way to calculate the gross tonnage of a boat is by adding the hull volume to the deckhouse volume and dividing that number by 100.
There are some other things to keep in mind as well. For boats with box-shaped or circular hulls, the dimensions will need to be adjusted by .84 and .67, respectively. You’ll need to calculate .75 for sailing vessels and other hull shapes.
For boats with more than one hull, you’ll need a different gross tonnage calculation.
This is a very simplistic view of the calculation and if you need to undertake finding your boat’s volume, it is best to access a resource that offers a detailed breakdown of how to arrive at the most accurate number.
What Counts as Volume?
The U.S. Coast Guard describes net tonnage as any part of the vessel that offers a useful capacity. That means that areas of the boat that don’t carry cargo, such as the crew’s space, don’t count toward the watercraft’s net tonnage. This is important to keep in mind when you calculate tonnage as it can skew the numbers if you don’t keep it out of the volume measurement.
Getting an accurate net tonnage of your boat may feel a bit overwhelming. After all, there’s a lot of math involved. It is a lot easier if you have the original builders certification which will detail net tonnage. When you know your boat’s net tonnage, you can easily access the forms on this site to deal with any aspect of coast guard registration.
That’s because any vessel not undertaking commercial activities that has a net tonnage under five net tons does not need to be registered. In addition to other vital data, the volume of watercraft is vital when documenting its specs on an application or renewal. So how do you know if your boat qualifies for registration with the U.S. Coast Guard?
How is Volume Determined?
Tonnage is a unit of volume, rather than a unit of weight. Therefore, you won’t be loading your vessel onto a giant scale to see if it reaches the 5-ton requirement for U.S. Coast Guard registration. Rather, you’ll use the boat’s dimensions to calculate tonnage.
This method – known as the Simplified Measurement System – is endorsed by the US government.
Boats over 79 feet in length may require an alternate way to calculate net tonnage. However, for most vessels, you can use the basic mathematical guidelines below to get a good idea of what your boat’s net tonnage is.
How to Calculate Volume
To get an accurate volume for your boat, it’s necessary to measure from the bow to the stern and from the funnel to the keel. Then you can use those numbers to calculate tonnage. One way to calculate the gross tonnage of a boat is by adding the hull volume to the deckhouse volume and dividing that number by 100.
There are some other things to keep in mind as well. For boats with box-shaped or circular hulls, the dimensions will need to be adjusted by .84 and .67, respectively. You’ll need to calculate .75 for sailing vessels and other hull shapes.
For boats with more than one hull, you’ll need a different gross tonnage calculation.
This is a very simplistic view of the calculation and if you need to undertake finding your boat’s volume, it is best to access a resource that offers a detailed breakdown of how to arrive at the most accurate number.
What Counts as Volume?
The U.S. Coast Guard describes net tonnage as any part of the vessel that offers a useful capacity. That means that areas of the boat that don’t carry cargo, such as the crew’s space, don’t count toward the watercraft’s net tonnage. This is important to keep in mind when you calculate tonnage as it can skew the numbers if you don’t keep it out of the volume measurement.
Getting an accurate net tonnage of your boat may feel a bit overwhelming. After all, there’s a lot of math involved. It is a lot easier if you have the original builders certification which will detail net tonnage. When you know your boat’s net tonnage, you can easily access the forms on this site to deal with any aspect of coast guard registration.
How to Perform a Vessel Documentation Search
Vessel Documentation is a crucial tool that connects the dots between maritime history, shipwrecks, and shipowners. Through comprehensive research and efficient data processing, the National Documentation Portal plays a pivotal role in bridging the gaps in maritime records. This article explores the intricate process of Vessel Documentation Search and highlights the significance of connecting shipwrecks to shipowners.
The Importance of Vessel Documentation Search
Documentation Search serves as an indispensable resource for maritime historians, salvagers, and shipowners. By accessing historical documents, vessel registration records, and ownership information, researchers can uncover valuable insights into the maritime past. The National Documentation Portal plays a crucial role in facilitating this process, providing a centralized platform for efficient data retrieval and analysis.
Preserving Maritime Heritage
Vessel Documentation Search not only aids in solving mysteries but also contributes to the preservation of maritime heritage. By linking shipwrecks to shipowners, historical artifacts and submerged cultural resources can be properly identified and protected. The National Documentation Portal serves as a valuable tool in ensuring that maritime history remains intact and accessible for future generations.
Efficiency and Accuracy of the National Documentation Portal
The National Documentation Portal, designed by a private agency specializing in USCG Documentation processing, streamlines the Documentation Search process. With advanced search algorithms and comprehensive databases, the portal provides quick and accurate results. This efficient system enables researchers to navigate through vast amounts of information, significantly reducing the time and effort required to connect shipwrecks to shipowners.
Navigating Legal Frameworks
Vessel Search involves navigating complex legal frameworks to establish rightful ownership of maritime assets. The National Documentation Portal simplifies this process by providing access to up-to-date legal documents, regulations, and requirements. This comprehensive resource ensures that shipowners and salvagers adhere to the necessary legal procedures, promoting transparency and fairness in maritime operations.
Enhancing Salvage and Recovery Efforts
Efficient search not only connects shipwrecks to shipowners but also plays a crucial role in salvage and recovery efforts. By identifying the owners of wrecked vessels, salvagers can engage in proper negotiations and collaborations. This streamlined approach fosters effective partnerships, leading to successful salvage operations and the preservation of valuable maritime assets.
Vessel Documentation Search, facilitated by the National Documentation Portal, serves as a vital link between shipwrecks and shipowners. By harnessing the power of historical records, ownership information, and legal frameworks, this process uncovers maritime mysteries, preserves heritage, and facilitates efficient salvage efforts. The National Documentation Portal continues to play a pivotal role in connecting the dots and preserving the rich tapestry of maritime history for generations to come.
The Importance of Vessel Documentation Search
Documentation Search serves as an indispensable resource for maritime historians, salvagers, and shipowners. By accessing historical documents, vessel registration records, and ownership information, researchers can uncover valuable insights into the maritime past. The National Documentation Portal plays a crucial role in facilitating this process, providing a centralized platform for efficient data retrieval and analysis.
Preserving Maritime Heritage
Vessel Documentation Search not only aids in solving mysteries but also contributes to the preservation of maritime heritage. By linking shipwrecks to shipowners, historical artifacts and submerged cultural resources can be properly identified and protected. The National Documentation Portal serves as a valuable tool in ensuring that maritime history remains intact and accessible for future generations.
Efficiency and Accuracy of the National Documentation Portal
The National Documentation Portal, designed by a private agency specializing in USCG Documentation processing, streamlines the Documentation Search process. With advanced search algorithms and comprehensive databases, the portal provides quick and accurate results. This efficient system enables researchers to navigate through vast amounts of information, significantly reducing the time and effort required to connect shipwrecks to shipowners.
Navigating Legal Frameworks
Vessel Search involves navigating complex legal frameworks to establish rightful ownership of maritime assets. The National Documentation Portal simplifies this process by providing access to up-to-date legal documents, regulations, and requirements. This comprehensive resource ensures that shipowners and salvagers adhere to the necessary legal procedures, promoting transparency and fairness in maritime operations.
Enhancing Salvage and Recovery Efforts
Efficient search not only connects shipwrecks to shipowners but also plays a crucial role in salvage and recovery efforts. By identifying the owners of wrecked vessels, salvagers can engage in proper negotiations and collaborations. This streamlined approach fosters effective partnerships, leading to successful salvage operations and the preservation of valuable maritime assets.
Vessel Documentation Search, facilitated by the National Documentation Portal, serves as a vital link between shipwrecks and shipowners. By harnessing the power of historical records, ownership information, and legal frameworks, this process uncovers maritime mysteries, preserves heritage, and facilitates efficient salvage efforts. The National Documentation Portal continues to play a pivotal role in connecting the dots and preserving the rich tapestry of maritime history for generations to come.
How Much Should You Pay to Obtain Vessel Documentation?
As a boat owner, you have several legal responsibilities that you need to fulfill so you can use your vessel for commercial or recreational purposes. Boat documentation is one of them. It is an essential process to legally operate your vessel. But what is the boat documentation cost? How quickly is it to process it? What is the easiest way to begin?
Understanding the Boat Documentation Cost
One of the costs associated with documenting your boat is the initial application fee. It can vary depending on the type of boat and its intended use. The initial application fee covers the cost of processing the documentation application, verifying the ownership of the vessel, and creating a unique vessel identification number.
Yearly Renewal Fee
After your boat has been documented, you need to renew the documentation yearly. The renewal fee is lower than the initial application fee. But it is still an expense that needs to be considered when owning a documented vessel.
Paying the Documentation Service
You will also need to pay for additional costs for the services that we provide. Our service can assist with completing the documentation application, processing the application, and providing ongoing support for the documentation process. The cost depends on the kind of service you wish to use. Call us to know the exact cost you need to pay to document your boat.
Benefits to Consider
Indeed, there are costs involved in documenting your boat. But there are also several benefits that you can enjoy. First, your boat is recognized by the US Coast Guard and it can travel internationally. This recognition provides greater flexibility for you if you want to use your boat beyond US waters.
Furthermore, your documented boat will get a unique identification number that provides proof of ownership. This number can be useful when purchasing and selling vessels, as it provides a clear record of ownership and history. Your boat may also be eligible for certain tax deductions or exemptions, depending on how you use it. The benefits can definitely offset the cost of boat documentation over time.
Ensuring All Paperwork is Filed Correctly
You can process the boat documentation on your own. But if you want the fastest way to do it, you may consider our documentation service. Even though there is an additional cost, it is all worth it considering that you do not have to deal with a lot of nuances associated with processing boat documentation.
Keep in mind that boat documentation can be time-consuming. We recommend leaving it to the experts. Our team can help facilitate the transfer of ownership of your vessel and it is useful if you are buying or selling a vessel. We can also handle all the necessary paperwork and ensure that the boat documentation is completed correctly.
If you still have questions about boat documentation costs and other matters related to this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Understanding the Boat Documentation Cost
One of the costs associated with documenting your boat is the initial application fee. It can vary depending on the type of boat and its intended use. The initial application fee covers the cost of processing the documentation application, verifying the ownership of the vessel, and creating a unique vessel identification number.
Yearly Renewal Fee
After your boat has been documented, you need to renew the documentation yearly. The renewal fee is lower than the initial application fee. But it is still an expense that needs to be considered when owning a documented vessel.
Paying the Documentation Service
You will also need to pay for additional costs for the services that we provide. Our service can assist with completing the documentation application, processing the application, and providing ongoing support for the documentation process. The cost depends on the kind of service you wish to use. Call us to know the exact cost you need to pay to document your boat.
Benefits to Consider
Indeed, there are costs involved in documenting your boat. But there are also several benefits that you can enjoy. First, your boat is recognized by the US Coast Guard and it can travel internationally. This recognition provides greater flexibility for you if you want to use your boat beyond US waters.
Furthermore, your documented boat will get a unique identification number that provides proof of ownership. This number can be useful when purchasing and selling vessels, as it provides a clear record of ownership and history. Your boat may also be eligible for certain tax deductions or exemptions, depending on how you use it. The benefits can definitely offset the cost of boat documentation over time.
Ensuring All Paperwork is Filed Correctly
You can process the boat documentation on your own. But if you want the fastest way to do it, you may consider our documentation service. Even though there is an additional cost, it is all worth it considering that you do not have to deal with a lot of nuances associated with processing boat documentation.
Keep in mind that boat documentation can be time-consuming. We recommend leaving it to the experts. Our team can help facilitate the transfer of ownership of your vessel and it is useful if you are buying or selling a vessel. We can also handle all the necessary paperwork and ensure that the boat documentation is completed correctly.
If you still have questions about boat documentation costs and other matters related to this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Vessel Documentation Forms FAQs
How Do I Process USCG Vessel Documentation?
USCG vessel documentation is a mandatory type of registration on a national level. Since the 11th Act of the First Congress, it's been a part of the government.
Verification provides exclusive proof of nationality, which facilitates international trade and allows boats to participate in limited trades like coastwise trade and fisheries.
Preferred mortgages on recorded watercraft have been available since 1920, making it easier to get a loan for a boat.
The recommended way of registering your boat's ownership with the government is via U.S. Coast Guard paperwork.
According to federalregister.gov, national registration offers advantages not accessible via state registration, and it is typically regarded as the highest level of enrollment.
The Changes in USCG Vessel Documentation
It could be time to renew your documentation, but have you been putting off the decision? You're like thousands of other vessel owners out there if you have. It's not a snap decision anyone makes, and many variables go into it.
That's why you want to make sure you do the research necessary to arrive at a wise decision that is right for you. In the past, vessel documentation was achieved through an application to your state government.
A great deal of documentation was required in this regard with the expectation that you meet all conditions for classification and receive your documentation.
Understanding USCG Documentation Requirements
Obtaining documentation from the USCG serves as proof of citizenship, eligibility for endorsements, and ship ownership.
Fishery, coastwise, registration, and leisure are the most specific endorsements on a Certificate of Documentation provided by the USCG.
All other endorsements may also be used for recreational purposes, but only if they are specifically approved for that purpose. International trading often necessitates the use of registry endorsements.
Documentation from the USCG is necessary for vessels at least five net tons in weight, owned solely by a U.S. citizen, and utilized in coastwise commerce or fishing operations in navigable seas of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
It is also necessary to keep track of any towboats or dredges working in the vicinity.
Except for the Great Lakes, boats utilized in coastwise commerce inside a port, on rivers or lakes (other than those of the United States' Great Lakes), or in a state's internal waterways or canals are exempt from the rule.
Advantages of Adhering To USCG Documentation Guidelines
The first financial advantage of registering your yacht with the federal government is tax savings.
Check with your local rules to determine whether your state permits you to claim a preferential tax status for documented boats.
Bank loans are an additional crucial factor to consider. As long as the vessel is recorded, the bank will register a "First Preferred Ship's Mortgage" and provide documentation to the National Vessel Documentation Center confirming that the mortgage has been satisfied.
As a result, you'll be in a better position to get the loan and supply the supporting papers you'll need to back up your application.
Thanks to USCG paperwork, the ease with which international maritime travel may be accomplished is another practical advantage.
Having the federal documents might help you get approval from other governments to take your vessel to places other than U.S. states and territories.
Proving your boat's status and compliance with United States standards is much easier if you have all of the necessary government documents on hand.
A boat from another state may "visit" a state's waters for up to 60 days without registering with that state's authorities.
Before leaving on vacation, make sure you know the road regulations in your destination country, both domestically and internationally.
In 2025 and Beyond, a Repository for Vessel Documentation Will Be Established
When we established the Vessel Documentation Center, we did so intending to create a resource center where vessel owners could go to get the information they need.
It's our job to remain on top of industry developments like the one described here so that our clients don't have to.
Whatever changes may occur in the future, we will include them in our services to ensure that our customers always have the most excellent experience possible for boat documentation.
Many people think that USCG documentation is not worth the trouble, but you can’t say that anymore. As evidenced by the facts above, registering your boat via USCG paperwork will lead to countless benefits.
The reason so many boaters avoid this method is simply out of ignorance about what it entails.
In case you were wondering, the whole process of USCG vessel documentation is all about the government recognizing ownership and registering boats, so you don't have to worry about the affairs of the state when the time comes.
Verification provides exclusive proof of nationality, which facilitates international trade and allows boats to participate in limited trades like coastwise trade and fisheries.
Preferred mortgages on recorded watercraft have been available since 1920, making it easier to get a loan for a boat.
The recommended way of registering your boat's ownership with the government is via U.S. Coast Guard paperwork.
According to federalregister.gov, national registration offers advantages not accessible via state registration, and it is typically regarded as the highest level of enrollment.
The Changes in USCG Vessel Documentation
It could be time to renew your documentation, but have you been putting off the decision? You're like thousands of other vessel owners out there if you have. It's not a snap decision anyone makes, and many variables go into it.
That's why you want to make sure you do the research necessary to arrive at a wise decision that is right for you. In the past, vessel documentation was achieved through an application to your state government.
A great deal of documentation was required in this regard with the expectation that you meet all conditions for classification and receive your documentation.
Understanding USCG Documentation Requirements
Obtaining documentation from the USCG serves as proof of citizenship, eligibility for endorsements, and ship ownership.
Fishery, coastwise, registration, and leisure are the most specific endorsements on a Certificate of Documentation provided by the USCG.
All other endorsements may also be used for recreational purposes, but only if they are specifically approved for that purpose. International trading often necessitates the use of registry endorsements.
Documentation from the USCG is necessary for vessels at least five net tons in weight, owned solely by a U.S. citizen, and utilized in coastwise commerce or fishing operations in navigable seas of the United States or the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
It is also necessary to keep track of any towboats or dredges working in the vicinity.
Except for the Great Lakes, boats utilized in coastwise commerce inside a port, on rivers or lakes (other than those of the United States' Great Lakes), or in a state's internal waterways or canals are exempt from the rule.
Advantages of Adhering To USCG Documentation Guidelines
The first financial advantage of registering your yacht with the federal government is tax savings.
Check with your local rules to determine whether your state permits you to claim a preferential tax status for documented boats.
Bank loans are an additional crucial factor to consider. As long as the vessel is recorded, the bank will register a "First Preferred Ship's Mortgage" and provide documentation to the National Vessel Documentation Center confirming that the mortgage has been satisfied.
As a result, you'll be in a better position to get the loan and supply the supporting papers you'll need to back up your application.
Thanks to USCG paperwork, the ease with which international maritime travel may be accomplished is another practical advantage.
Having the federal documents might help you get approval from other governments to take your vessel to places other than U.S. states and territories.
Proving your boat's status and compliance with United States standards is much easier if you have all of the necessary government documents on hand.
A boat from another state may "visit" a state's waters for up to 60 days without registering with that state's authorities.
Before leaving on vacation, make sure you know the road regulations in your destination country, both domestically and internationally.
In 2025 and Beyond, a Repository for Vessel Documentation Will Be Established
When we established the Vessel Documentation Center, we did so intending to create a resource center where vessel owners could go to get the information they need.
It's our job to remain on top of industry developments like the one described here so that our clients don't have to.
Whatever changes may occur in the future, we will include them in our services to ensure that our customers always have the most excellent experience possible for boat documentation.
Many people think that USCG documentation is not worth the trouble, but you can’t say that anymore. As evidenced by the facts above, registering your boat via USCG paperwork will lead to countless benefits.
The reason so many boaters avoid this method is simply out of ignorance about what it entails.
In case you were wondering, the whole process of USCG vessel documentation is all about the government recognizing ownership and registering boats, so you don't have to worry about the affairs of the state when the time comes.
How to Draw Up a Boat Trailer Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is essentially a record of a large (valuable) purchase, and it acts as a documented agreement between a seller and a buyer that lays out the specific details of the transaction, namely price, and conditions. It helps to eliminate the prospect of any miscommunication later down the line. If you are about to complete the purchase or sale of a boat trailer, then here is some essential information on how to draw up a boat trailer bill of sale.
When it comes to boat trailers, the rules for bills of sale are no different from the rules for things like travel trailers and utility trailers, in the sense that bill of sale is an important part of the buying and selling process. Unlike vessels, boats, and watercraft, trailers do not have to be registered with the coast guard, but the likelihood is that many vessel owners will also own a boat trailer especially if they don’t have a permanent mooring berth. Trailers, however, do need to be registered with the DMV!
Names And Contact Information
The first thing that needs to be included on the bill of sale is the names and contact information of both the buyer and the seller. It might seem like an obvious point to make, but you would be surprised how many people are not experienced in the drawing up of any kind of official or legal document!
Trailer Information
Next, are the details and information relating to the trailer that is being transferred from the seller to the buyer. This will include everything including VIN, model, make, and the year of manufacture. You essentially need to include every detail of the trailer that is distinct to the vehicle in question.
Price
Another essential piece of information to include is, of course, the exact amount of money that is being transferred from the buyer to the seller for possession of the boat trailer. Making the final sale price clear on the bill of sale is vital because it prevents dissent in any potential future disputes about how much money actually exchanged hands.
Conditions Of Sale
Finally, you need to include all and any conditions of the sale, including things like ‘as is’ status and any warranties that are being offered, and concessions that are being made between the seller and buyer. It is important to get all of these potential caveats listed on the bill of sale so that you have something to refer back to in the future if there ever happens to be a complaint or a problem that arises.
If you need any more help and assistance with drawing up a boat trailer bill of sale or need any documents relating to boat ownership, then you’ll find what you need at nvdcrenewal.us. There is the full set of all Coast Guard documentation available online and to download. The site will help to make things a lot clearer for you in your mission to sort all boat paperwork out in a professional and accurate manner.
When it comes to boat trailers, the rules for bills of sale are no different from the rules for things like travel trailers and utility trailers, in the sense that bill of sale is an important part of the buying and selling process. Unlike vessels, boats, and watercraft, trailers do not have to be registered with the coast guard, but the likelihood is that many vessel owners will also own a boat trailer especially if they don’t have a permanent mooring berth. Trailers, however, do need to be registered with the DMV!
Names And Contact Information
The first thing that needs to be included on the bill of sale is the names and contact information of both the buyer and the seller. It might seem like an obvious point to make, but you would be surprised how many people are not experienced in the drawing up of any kind of official or legal document!
Trailer Information
Next, are the details and information relating to the trailer that is being transferred from the seller to the buyer. This will include everything including VIN, model, make, and the year of manufacture. You essentially need to include every detail of the trailer that is distinct to the vehicle in question.
Price
Another essential piece of information to include is, of course, the exact amount of money that is being transferred from the buyer to the seller for possession of the boat trailer. Making the final sale price clear on the bill of sale is vital because it prevents dissent in any potential future disputes about how much money actually exchanged hands.
Conditions Of Sale
Finally, you need to include all and any conditions of the sale, including things like ‘as is’ status and any warranties that are being offered, and concessions that are being made between the seller and buyer. It is important to get all of these potential caveats listed on the bill of sale so that you have something to refer back to in the future if there ever happens to be a complaint or a problem that arises.
If you need any more help and assistance with drawing up a boat trailer bill of sale or need any documents relating to boat ownership, then you’ll find what you need at nvdcrenewal.us. There is the full set of all Coast Guard documentation available online and to download. The site will help to make things a lot clearer for you in your mission to sort all boat paperwork out in a professional and accurate manner.
What Documentation Is Required to Use My Vessel Internationally?
Obtain Vessel Documentation with a Registry Endorsement
If your vessel is entirely U.S.-owned, measures at least five net tons in volume, and is intended for international travel, U.S. Coast Guard documentation with a “Registry” endorsement is recommended.
Use the link here to apply for US vessel documentation.
If your vessel is already documented and you need to change to a Registry endorsement, follow this link for a Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator.
Comprehensive Documentation Support
The National Documentation Portal provides streamlined support for vessel documentation, renewals, and other related needs.
For more details, we’ve included these laws below. Contact us for any further questions you may have:
Subpart B—Forms of Documentation; Endorsements; Eligibility of Vessel
67.15 Form of document—all endorsements.
(a) The form of document is a Certificate of Documentation, form CG-1270.
(b) Upon application in accordance with subpart K of this part and determination of qualification by the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, a Certificate of Documentation may be issued with a registry, coastwise, fishery, or recreational endorsement.
(c) A Certificate of Documentation may bear simultaneous endorsements for recreation and more than one trade, including operation under 46 CFR part 68.
Note:
Where a vessel possesses a Certificate of Documentation bearing more than one endorsement, the actual use of the vessel determines the endorsement under which it is operating.
[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-1999-6216, 64 FR 53225, Oct. 1, 1999; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.17 Registry endorsement.
(a) A registry endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in the foreign trade; trade with Guam, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, or Kingman Reef; and any other employment for which a coastwise, or fishery endorsement is not required.
(b) Any vessel eligible for documentation under § 67.5 is eligible for a registry endorsement.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43863, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.19 Coastwise endorsement.
(a) A coastwise endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in unrestricted coastwise trade, dredging, towing, and any other employment for which a registry or fishery endorsement is not required.
(b) If eligible for documentation and not restricted from coastwise trade by paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, the following vessels are eligible for a coastwise endorsement:
(1) Vessels built in the United States (§ 67.97);
(2) Forfeited vessels (§ 67.131);
(3) Vessels granted coastwise trading privileges by special legislation (§ 67.132);
(4) Wrecked vessels (§ 67.133);
(5) Captured vessels (§ 67.134); and
(6) Vessels purchased, chartered, or leased from the Secretary of Transportation by persons who are citizens of the United States (46 U.S.C. 57109).
(c) A vessel otherwise eligible for a coastwise endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section permanently loses that eligibility if:
(1) It is thereafter sold in whole or in part to an owner:
(i) Not a citizen as defined in subpart C of this part, or
(ii) Not a person permitted to document vessels pursuant to 46 CFR part 68;
(2) It is thereafter registered under the laws of a foreign country;
(3) It undergoes rebuilding as defined in § 67.177 outside of the United States; or
(4) It is a crude oil tanker of 20,000 deadweight tons or above, and after October 17, 1978, has segregated ballast tanks, a crude oil washing system, or an inert gas system installed outside of the United States as defined in § 67.3.
(d) A vessel otherwise eligible for a coastwise endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section loses that eligibility during any period in which it is:
(1) Owned by a corporation which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.39(c);
(2) Owned by a partnership which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.35(c); or
(3) Mortgaged to a person not identified in § 67.233(b).
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49846, Sept. 30, 1994; CGD 94-040, 61 FR 17815, Apr. 22, 1996; USCG-2002-13058, 67 FR 61278, Sept. 30, 2002; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43863, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.21 Fishery endorsement.
(a) A fishery endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in the fisheries as defined in § 67.3, subject to Federal and State laws regulating the fisheries, and in any other employment for which a registry or coastwise endorsement is not required. A fishery endorsement entitles a vessel to land its catch, wherever caught, in the United States.
(b) If eligible for documentation and not restricted from the fisheries by paragraph (c) of this section, the following vessels are eligible for a fishery endorsement:
(1) Vessels built in the United States (§ 67.97);
(2) Forfeited vessels (§ 67.131);
(3) Vessels granted fisheries privileges by special legislation(§ 67.132);
(4) Wrecked vessels (§ 67.133); and
(5) Captured vessels (§ 67.134).
(c) A vessel otherwise eligible for a fishery endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section permanently loses that eligibility if it undergoes rebuilding as defined in § 67.177 outside of the United States.
(d) A vessel otherwise eligible for a fishery endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section loses that eligibility during any period in which it is:
(1) Owned by a partnership which does not meet the requisite citizenship requirements of § 67.35(b);
(2) Owned by a corporation which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.39(b); or
(3) Chartered or leased to an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or to an entity that is not eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement, except that time charters, voyage charters and other charters that are not a demise of the vessel may be entered into with Non-Citizens for the charter of dedicated Fish Tender Vessels and Fish Processing Vessels that are not engaged in the harvesting of fish or fishery resources without the vessel losing its eligibility for a fishery endorsement.
(e) A vessel operating with a fishery endorsement on October 1, 1998, under the authority of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, or a purse seine vessel engaged in tuna fishing outside of the EEZ of the United States or pursuant to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Treaty may continue to operate as set out in 46 U.S.C. 12113(c)(3), provided that the owner of the vessel continues to comply with the fishery endorsement requirements that were in effect on October 1, 1998.
(f) An individual or entity that is otherwise eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement shall be ineligible if an instrument or evidence of indebtedness, secured by a mortgage of the vessel, to a trustee eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement is issued, assigned, transferred, or held in trust for a person not eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement, unless the Commandant determines that the issuance, assignment, transfer, or trust arrangement does not result in an impermissible transfer of control of the vessel and that the trustee:
(1) Is organized as a corporation that meets § 67.39(b) of this part, and is doing business under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Is authorized under those laws to exercise corporate trust powers which meet § 67.36(b) of this part;
(3) Is subject to supervision or examination by an official of the United States Government or a State;
(4) Has a combined capital and surplus (as stated in its most recent published report of condition) of at least $3,000,000; and
(5) Meets any other requirements prescribed by the Commandant.
For vessels greater than or equal to 100 feet in length, approval of such an arrangement from the Maritime Administration will be accepted as evidence that the above conditions are met and will be approved by the Commandant. For vessels less than 100 feet, a standard loan and mortgage agreement that has received general approval under 46 CFR 356.21 will be accepted as evidence that the above conditions are met and will be approved by the Commandant.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007A, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 94-040, 61 FR 17815, Apr. 22, 1996; USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.23 Recreational endorsement.
(a) A recreational endorsement entitles a vessel to pleasure use only.
(b) Any vessel eligible for documentation under § 67.5 is eligible for a recreational endorsement.
Note:
A vessel having a Certificate of Documentation endorsed only for recreation may be bareboat chartered only for recreational use. Guidance on the elements of a valid bareboat charter should be obtained through private legal counsel.
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.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007A, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
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.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1003, as amended by USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58346, Sept. 30, 2004]
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.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49846, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended by USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2001-8825, 69 FR 5401, Feb. 4, 2004; USCG-2005-20258, 71 FR 61417, Oct. 18, 2006; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
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.
If your vessel is entirely U.S.-owned, measures at least five net tons in volume, and is intended for international travel, U.S. Coast Guard documentation with a “Registry” endorsement is recommended.
Use the link here to apply for US vessel documentation.
If your vessel is already documented and you need to change to a Registry endorsement, follow this link for a Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator.
Comprehensive Documentation Support
The National Documentation Portal provides streamlined support for vessel documentation, renewals, and other related needs.
For more details, we’ve included these laws below. Contact us for any further questions you may have:
Subpart B—Forms of Documentation; Endorsements; Eligibility of Vessel
67.15 Form of document—all endorsements.
(a) The form of document is a Certificate of Documentation, form CG-1270.
(b) Upon application in accordance with subpart K of this part and determination of qualification by the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center, a Certificate of Documentation may be issued with a registry, coastwise, fishery, or recreational endorsement.
(c) A Certificate of Documentation may bear simultaneous endorsements for recreation and more than one trade, including operation under 46 CFR part 68.
Note:
Where a vessel possesses a Certificate of Documentation bearing more than one endorsement, the actual use of the vessel determines the endorsement under which it is operating.
[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-1999-6216, 64 FR 53225, Oct. 1, 1999; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.17 Registry endorsement.
(a) A registry endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in the foreign trade; trade with Guam, American Samoa, Wake, Midway, or Kingman Reef; and any other employment for which a coastwise, or fishery endorsement is not required.
(b) Any vessel eligible for documentation under § 67.5 is eligible for a registry endorsement.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43863, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.19 Coastwise endorsement.
(a) A coastwise endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in unrestricted coastwise trade, dredging, towing, and any other employment for which a registry or fishery endorsement is not required.
(b) If eligible for documentation and not restricted from coastwise trade by paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, the following vessels are eligible for a coastwise endorsement:
(1) Vessels built in the United States (§ 67.97);
(2) Forfeited vessels (§ 67.131);
(3) Vessels granted coastwise trading privileges by special legislation (§ 67.132);
(4) Wrecked vessels (§ 67.133);
(5) Captured vessels (§ 67.134); and
(6) Vessels purchased, chartered, or leased from the Secretary of Transportation by persons who are citizens of the United States (46 U.S.C. 57109).
(c) A vessel otherwise eligible for a coastwise endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section permanently loses that eligibility if:
(1) It is thereafter sold in whole or in part to an owner:
(i) Not a citizen as defined in subpart C of this part, or
(ii) Not a person permitted to document vessels pursuant to 46 CFR part 68;
(2) It is thereafter registered under the laws of a foreign country;
(3) It undergoes rebuilding as defined in § 67.177 outside of the United States; or
(4) It is a crude oil tanker of 20,000 deadweight tons or above, and after October 17, 1978, has segregated ballast tanks, a crude oil washing system, or an inert gas system installed outside of the United States as defined in § 67.3.
(d) A vessel otherwise eligible for a coastwise endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section loses that eligibility during any period in which it is:
(1) Owned by a corporation which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.39(c);
(2) Owned by a partnership which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.35(c); or
(3) Mortgaged to a person not identified in § 67.233(b).
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49846, Sept. 30, 1994; CGD 94-040, 61 FR 17815, Apr. 22, 1996; USCG-2002-13058, 67 FR 61278, Sept. 30, 2002; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43863, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.21 Fishery endorsement.
(a) A fishery endorsement entitles a vessel to employment in the fisheries as defined in § 67.3, subject to Federal and State laws regulating the fisheries, and in any other employment for which a registry or coastwise endorsement is not required. A fishery endorsement entitles a vessel to land its catch, wherever caught, in the United States.
(b) If eligible for documentation and not restricted from the fisheries by paragraph (c) of this section, the following vessels are eligible for a fishery endorsement:
(1) Vessels built in the United States (§ 67.97);
(2) Forfeited vessels (§ 67.131);
(3) Vessels granted fisheries privileges by special legislation(§ 67.132);
(4) Wrecked vessels (§ 67.133); and
(5) Captured vessels (§ 67.134).
(c) A vessel otherwise eligible for a fishery endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section permanently loses that eligibility if it undergoes rebuilding as defined in § 67.177 outside of the United States.
(d) A vessel otherwise eligible for a fishery endorsement under paragraph (b) of this section loses that eligibility during any period in which it is:
(1) Owned by a partnership which does not meet the requisite citizenship requirements of § 67.35(b);
(2) Owned by a corporation which does not meet the citizenship requirements of § 67.39(b); or
(3) Chartered or leased to an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or to an entity that is not eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement, except that time charters, voyage charters and other charters that are not a demise of the vessel may be entered into with Non-Citizens for the charter of dedicated Fish Tender Vessels and Fish Processing Vessels that are not engaged in the harvesting of fish or fishery resources without the vessel losing its eligibility for a fishery endorsement.
(e) A vessel operating with a fishery endorsement on October 1, 1998, under the authority of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, or a purse seine vessel engaged in tuna fishing outside of the EEZ of the United States or pursuant to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Treaty may continue to operate as set out in 46 U.S.C. 12113(c)(3), provided that the owner of the vessel continues to comply with the fishery endorsement requirements that were in effect on October 1, 1998.
(f) An individual or entity that is otherwise eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement shall be ineligible if an instrument or evidence of indebtedness, secured by a mortgage of the vessel, to a trustee eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement is issued, assigned, transferred, or held in trust for a person not eligible to own a vessel with a fishery endorsement, unless the Commandant determines that the issuance, assignment, transfer, or trust arrangement does not result in an impermissible transfer of control of the vessel and that the trustee:
(1) Is organized as a corporation that meets § 67.39(b) of this part, and is doing business under the laws of the United States or of a State;
(2) Is authorized under those laws to exercise corporate trust powers which meet § 67.36(b) of this part;
(3) Is subject to supervision or examination by an official of the United States Government or a State;
(4) Has a combined capital and surplus (as stated in its most recent published report of condition) of at least $3,000,000; and
(5) Meets any other requirements prescribed by the Commandant.
For vessels greater than or equal to 100 feet in length, approval of such an arrangement from the Maritime Administration will be accepted as evidence that the above conditions are met and will be approved by the Commandant. For vessels less than 100 feet, a standard loan and mortgage agreement that has received general approval under 46 CFR 356.21 will be accepted as evidence that the above conditions are met and will be approved by the Commandant.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007A, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 94-040, 61 FR 17815, Apr. 22, 1996; USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.23 Recreational endorsement.
(a) A recreational endorsement entitles a vessel to pleasure use only.
(b) Any vessel eligible for documentation under § 67.5 is eligible for a recreational endorsement.
Note:
A vessel having a Certificate of Documentation endorsed only for recreation may be bareboat chartered only for recreational use. Guidance on the elements of a valid bareboat charter should be obtained through private legal counsel.
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.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007A, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
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.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1003, as amended by USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58346, Sept. 30, 2004]
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.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49846, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended by USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76575, Dec. 7, 2000; USCG-2001-8825, 69 FR 5401, Feb. 4, 2004; USCG-2005-20258, 71 FR 61417, Oct. 18, 2006; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
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.
What is the MARAD Waiver and How to Apply
The MARAD waiver MA-1023 (11-10) helps some small, foreign vessels to be used for passenger operations in the United States. You can apply through our site.
US maritime laws are designed to protect US waterways and coastal waters and give preferred access to US-operated vessels, particularly along trade routes. Owners of vessels not built in the USA cannot get easy access to these prime routes but the US government doesn’t want to block all external trade so there are ways for foreign vessels to participate in commerce. Provision is set out in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, section 27, known as the Jones Act.
A MARAD waiver is granted by the United State Maritime Administration, and it exempts a vessel and its operators from certain legal requirements, under certain varied circumstances.
The two most common reasons for a MARAD waiver to be granted are:
vessel owners seeking trade routes whose ships were not built in the United States
in an emergency situation when repairs or maintenance are needed but cannot be performed in a timely manner
Here is the key information you need and how to apply for a MARAD waiver.
MARAD Waiver Application Can Be Made Online Or By Mail
The vessel owner or owner-manager needs to submit an application for the small vessel waiver either online or by traditional mail. For most people, this is much easier to do via a website where you can complete the process from the comfort of your own home. When you submit online, it’s usually an easy step-by-step process and there is additional information at hand.
There’s a Waiting Period
After your application has been submitted, there will be a period of waiting time after which MARAD will publish a public notice on the Federal Register for thirty days. This will be a note that displays the vessel and its intended use.
MARAD Waiver Research
During this thirty-day period, MARAS will utilize various sources to determine whether the issuing of a waiver for your particular vessel will in any way have a negative impact on American vessel builders or the US coastal trade business.
Clearance
If after this research, MARAD concludes that your vessel will not have any negative impact, then you will be issued the waiver. It might seem daunting but the reality is that most of the applications made to MARAD for waivers are approved and granted.
New Vessel Documentation After the MARAD Waiver
Once granted, the MARAD waiver will become part of your vessel’s permanent documentation and will need to stay with it even if you decide to sell the vessel at a later date. Something to note is that once you receive the waiver, you should also file for a Coastwise Trade Endorsement for the passenger trade, assuming of course that the vessel in question does not already have this endorsement approved and in place.
To apply for a Marad waiver, certain conditions need to be met. These specifics can be found online here along with application forms that can be downloaded. There is also a lot more information about the Marad waiver and all other Coast Guard documentation. Feel free to browse through the site for any form you may need.
US maritime laws are designed to protect US waterways and coastal waters and give preferred access to US-operated vessels, particularly along trade routes. Owners of vessels not built in the USA cannot get easy access to these prime routes but the US government doesn’t want to block all external trade so there are ways for foreign vessels to participate in commerce. Provision is set out in the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, section 27, known as the Jones Act.
A MARAD waiver is granted by the United State Maritime Administration, and it exempts a vessel and its operators from certain legal requirements, under certain varied circumstances.
The two most common reasons for a MARAD waiver to be granted are:
vessel owners seeking trade routes whose ships were not built in the United States
in an emergency situation when repairs or maintenance are needed but cannot be performed in a timely manner
Here is the key information you need and how to apply for a MARAD waiver.
MARAD Waiver Application Can Be Made Online Or By Mail
The vessel owner or owner-manager needs to submit an application for the small vessel waiver either online or by traditional mail. For most people, this is much easier to do via a website where you can complete the process from the comfort of your own home. When you submit online, it’s usually an easy step-by-step process and there is additional information at hand.
There’s a Waiting Period
After your application has been submitted, there will be a period of waiting time after which MARAD will publish a public notice on the Federal Register for thirty days. This will be a note that displays the vessel and its intended use.
MARAD Waiver Research
During this thirty-day period, MARAS will utilize various sources to determine whether the issuing of a waiver for your particular vessel will in any way have a negative impact on American vessel builders or the US coastal trade business.
Clearance
If after this research, MARAD concludes that your vessel will not have any negative impact, then you will be issued the waiver. It might seem daunting but the reality is that most of the applications made to MARAD for waivers are approved and granted.
New Vessel Documentation After the MARAD Waiver
Once granted, the MARAD waiver will become part of your vessel’s permanent documentation and will need to stay with it even if you decide to sell the vessel at a later date. Something to note is that once you receive the waiver, you should also file for a Coastwise Trade Endorsement for the passenger trade, assuming of course that the vessel in question does not already have this endorsement approved and in place.
To apply for a Marad waiver, certain conditions need to be met. These specifics can be found online here along with application forms that can be downloaded. There is also a lot more information about the Marad waiver and all other Coast Guard documentation. Feel free to browse through the site for any form you may need.
How a Boat HIN Lookup Can Prevent Fraud
Buying a boat is an exhilarating experience, but it also comes with its share of risks, especially when dealing with used vessels. Fraudulent sellers can be cunning, and it's essential to protect yourself from potential scams. In this guide, we'll explore how Boat HIN Lookup, provided by Vessel Documentation Online, can be your shield against fraud when purchasing a boat, helping you spot red flags and make informed decisions.
Understanding the Boat HIN
Before diving into the protective power of HIN Lookup, let's understand what HIN stands for. HIN, or Hull Identification Number, is a unique, 12-character code assigned to each boat. It's akin to a boat's fingerprint, as no two boats have the same HIN. This number is permanently attached to the vessel and serves as a crucial identifier.
The Fraudulent Boat Market
Sadly, the world of boat sales is not immune to fraudsters. They may disguise their intentions with convincing tales, fake documentation, or attractive offers. Without the right tools, you might unknowingly fall victim to scams that can result in financial loss and legal troubles. This is where HIN Lookup comes to your rescue.
Boat HIN Lookup Explained
HIN Lookup is a service that allows you to access essential information about a vessel by entering its HIN. This service can uncover a treasure trove of data, including the boat's manufacturer, model, production year, and whether it has any outstanding liens or history of theft. Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions when buying a boat and detect red flags that could signal potential fraud.
Spotting Red Flags
Mismatched Information
One common red flag is when the information provided by the seller doesn't match the HIN Lookup results. Discrepancies in the boat's make, model, or production year can be a sign that something isn't right. Always cross-check this information with the official records to ensure accuracy.
Outstanding Liens
A Vessel HIN Lookup can reveal if the vessel has any outstanding liens or loans against it. If the seller claims the boat is free and clear but the lookup indicates otherwise, it's crucial to investigate further. Owning a boat with undisclosed liens can lead to legal complications and financial burdens.
Theft History
One of the most alarming red flags is a boat with a history of theft. Vessel HIN Lookup can alert you if the vessel has been reported as stolen in the past. Purchasing a stolen boat not only leads to legal issues but also the loss of your investment.
Salvage or Rebuilt Titles
Some sellers may attempt to sell boats with salvage or rebuilt titles without disclosing this information. A Boat HIN Lookup can reveal if the boat has undergone significant damage and subsequent repairs. Such history can affect the boat's value and safety.
How Boat HIN Lookup Works
Boat HIN Lookup is a straightforward process that involves entering the vessel's unique Hull Identification Number into an online database. The system then retrieves and presents information associated with that particular HIN. It's a quick and easy way to verify the boat's details before committing to a purchase.
Protecting Your Investment
Now that you understand the significance of Boat HIN Lookup let's explore how it can safeguard your investment and prevent fraud.
Verify Ownership
The Vessel HIN Lookup can confirm whether the seller indeed owns the boat they're offering for sale. This step is vital in preventing fraudulent sales by unauthorized sellers.
Confirm Boat's Identity
Ensure that the boat's make, model, and production year align with the information provided by the seller. Any discrepancies should raise concerns.
Check for Outstanding Liens
By checking for outstanding liens, you can avoid purchasing a boat burdened with financial obligations that could become your responsibility.
Detect Theft History
Discovering a boat's theft history is essential to ensure you're not unintentionally engaging in an illegal transaction.
Assess Condition
Boat HIN Lookup may provide insights into the boat's condition, including whether it has salvage or rebuilt status. This information is crucial for evaluating the vessel's safety and value.
The Bottom Line
Buying a boat is a significant investment, and it's essential to protect yourself from potential fraud. HIN Lookup is your vigilant partner in this process, helping you spot red flags and make informed decisions. With Vessel Documentation Online's Boat HIN Lookup service, you can confidently navigate the boat-buying market, ensuring that your purchase is legitimate and secure. Don't leave your investment to chance—harness the power of HIN Lookup and sail into your boating adventures with peace of mind.
Understanding the Boat HIN
Before diving into the protective power of HIN Lookup, let's understand what HIN stands for. HIN, or Hull Identification Number, is a unique, 12-character code assigned to each boat. It's akin to a boat's fingerprint, as no two boats have the same HIN. This number is permanently attached to the vessel and serves as a crucial identifier.
The Fraudulent Boat Market
Sadly, the world of boat sales is not immune to fraudsters. They may disguise their intentions with convincing tales, fake documentation, or attractive offers. Without the right tools, you might unknowingly fall victim to scams that can result in financial loss and legal troubles. This is where HIN Lookup comes to your rescue.
Boat HIN Lookup Explained
HIN Lookup is a service that allows you to access essential information about a vessel by entering its HIN. This service can uncover a treasure trove of data, including the boat's manufacturer, model, production year, and whether it has any outstanding liens or history of theft. Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions when buying a boat and detect red flags that could signal potential fraud.
Spotting Red Flags
Mismatched Information
One common red flag is when the information provided by the seller doesn't match the HIN Lookup results. Discrepancies in the boat's make, model, or production year can be a sign that something isn't right. Always cross-check this information with the official records to ensure accuracy.
Outstanding Liens
A Vessel HIN Lookup can reveal if the vessel has any outstanding liens or loans against it. If the seller claims the boat is free and clear but the lookup indicates otherwise, it's crucial to investigate further. Owning a boat with undisclosed liens can lead to legal complications and financial burdens.
Theft History
One of the most alarming red flags is a boat with a history of theft. Vessel HIN Lookup can alert you if the vessel has been reported as stolen in the past. Purchasing a stolen boat not only leads to legal issues but also the loss of your investment.
Salvage or Rebuilt Titles
Some sellers may attempt to sell boats with salvage or rebuilt titles without disclosing this information. A Boat HIN Lookup can reveal if the boat has undergone significant damage and subsequent repairs. Such history can affect the boat's value and safety.
How Boat HIN Lookup Works
Boat HIN Lookup is a straightforward process that involves entering the vessel's unique Hull Identification Number into an online database. The system then retrieves and presents information associated with that particular HIN. It's a quick and easy way to verify the boat's details before committing to a purchase.
Protecting Your Investment
Now that you understand the significance of Boat HIN Lookup let's explore how it can safeguard your investment and prevent fraud.
Verify Ownership
The Vessel HIN Lookup can confirm whether the seller indeed owns the boat they're offering for sale. This step is vital in preventing fraudulent sales by unauthorized sellers.
Confirm Boat's Identity
Ensure that the boat's make, model, and production year align with the information provided by the seller. Any discrepancies should raise concerns.
Check for Outstanding Liens
By checking for outstanding liens, you can avoid purchasing a boat burdened with financial obligations that could become your responsibility.
Detect Theft History
Discovering a boat's theft history is essential to ensure you're not unintentionally engaging in an illegal transaction.
Assess Condition
Boat HIN Lookup may provide insights into the boat's condition, including whether it has salvage or rebuilt status. This information is crucial for evaluating the vessel's safety and value.
The Bottom Line
Buying a boat is a significant investment, and it's essential to protect yourself from potential fraud. HIN Lookup is your vigilant partner in this process, helping you spot red flags and make informed decisions. With Vessel Documentation Online's Boat HIN Lookup service, you can confidently navigate the boat-buying market, ensuring that your purchase is legitimate and secure. Don't leave your investment to chance—harness the power of HIN Lookup and sail into your boating adventures with peace of mind.
Vessel Documentation Search FAQs
How Do I Find a Documented Vessel’s Tonnage?
A National Documentation Portal USCG Documentation Search
Completing a search through our site, you can learn a documented vessel’s tonnage.
Beyond that, a search will also tell you when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation will expire, when it was issued, the vessel’s dimensions, and other information.
This is the link to perform a USCG documentation search.
Laws That Pertain to a Boat Documentation Search
The National Documentation Portal is here to assist vessel owners, no matter their experience or background, in finding and completing the documentation they need for their vessels.
The following laws may relate to your specific situation:
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.
Completing a search through our site, you can learn a documented vessel’s tonnage.
Beyond that, a search will also tell you when a vessel’s Certificate of Documentation will expire, when it was issued, the vessel’s dimensions, and other information.
This is the link to perform a USCG documentation search.
Laws That Pertain to a Boat Documentation Search
The National Documentation Portal is here to assist vessel owners, no matter their experience or background, in finding and completing the documentation they need for their vessels.
The following laws may relate to your specific situation:
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 to Do a Vessel Documentation Lookup at Our Website
Use vessel documentation lookup feature on our site to learn more about a vessel's dimensions, particulars, and more.
If you conduct a vessel documentation search, you may discover important information that you were previously unaware of or that the vessel's owner has intentionally concealed due to legal issues.
A background check may be beneficial in various ways and for a variety of reasons.
Perhaps you wish to purchase a secondhand boat from a private owner who seems to be dishonest, or maybe you were engaged in a boat accident in which the other boater fled the scene at high speed.
According to uscgboating.org, when a ship is abandoned on the coast near your home, it might be beneficial to track down the owner to hold him liable for the boat.
Simple Way to Do a Vessel Documentation Lookup
Visit our Vessel Documentation Center when you're ready to do a vessel lookup, and you'll be able to get the information you need.
Input the vessel's official United States Coast Guard (USCG) number or its name to begin your search, and we'll give you a boat history report that will tell you all you need to know to make an educated selection.
Because we get our information straight from the United States Coast Guard database, you may be sure to use official data.
Please keep in mind that the USCG database is updated every quarter; thus, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the search results.
Vessel Documentation Lookup = Self-Inspection of a Vessel
To search for maritime paperwork to be successful, you must first offer detailed information about the boat.
It is sufficient to have either the hull identification number (HIN) or the official number.
Keep in mind that this search tool is only applicable to boats that have been recorded with the United States Coast Guard and do not apply to pleasure watercraft that have been registered with the state of residence.
When the boat is facing forward, the HIN is often positioned in the stern or rear of the boat, on the starboard or right side, depending on the model.
A registration sticker may be seen on each side of the bow, on either side of the bow. This will tell you whether the Coast Guard has registered the boat or if it has been unregistered by the local authorities.
The sticker is generally in a bit of a square or rectangular shape.
A Vessel's Documented Information
Information such as preferred mortgage filings, ownership details, notifications of lien claims, previous boat owner history, hailing port, and more may be found by a search of the vessel's documents.
It is safe to assume that any data that you access via the application for a search is taken straight from the official registration of the United States Coast Guard.
Because the USCG registration is updated four times a year, there may be inconsistencies in the data you see there.
There may be omissions in the report, no matter how precise it is. You should ensure to do your extensive study before purchasing a secondhand boat, which is very important.
When doing a vessel documentation search, there are a few things to consider.
Please note that you may choose to provide either the HIN or the official number when you submit an inquiry in our system.
You have the option of entering the information in either capital or lower case letters. The results will be based on the precise phrases you entered and will appear on this very same page as you entered them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the information offered by this search engine is subject to change. It may also include typographical or grammatical mistakes or omissions.
As a result, it is suggested that you proceed with caution and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Vessel Documentation Search For Those Who Wish to Learn
Many inaccuracies are caused by certain vessels' files that may have been idle for a lengthy period, maybe even decades. As a result, while this material is still accessible, it may not be correct.
So, while vessel documentation lookup is available, it is not easy to do. You need the correct information access to ship registration records, and you need to know how to review a vessel's documents.
Furthermore, many people are likely unaware that this type of research exists. However, it can be very beneficial to conduct a ship's investigation if you need to determine a ship's history quickly and easily.
If you found this article informative and would like to search for a vessel document, go directly to our website. When you do so, you will conduct a vehicle identification number lookup to receive that information.
If you conduct a vessel documentation search, you may discover important information that you were previously unaware of or that the vessel's owner has intentionally concealed due to legal issues.
A background check may be beneficial in various ways and for a variety of reasons.
Perhaps you wish to purchase a secondhand boat from a private owner who seems to be dishonest, or maybe you were engaged in a boat accident in which the other boater fled the scene at high speed.
According to uscgboating.org, when a ship is abandoned on the coast near your home, it might be beneficial to track down the owner to hold him liable for the boat.
Simple Way to Do a Vessel Documentation Lookup
Visit our Vessel Documentation Center when you're ready to do a vessel lookup, and you'll be able to get the information you need.
Input the vessel's official United States Coast Guard (USCG) number or its name to begin your search, and we'll give you a boat history report that will tell you all you need to know to make an educated selection.
Because we get our information straight from the United States Coast Guard database, you may be sure to use official data.
Please keep in mind that the USCG database is updated every quarter; thus, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the search results.
Vessel Documentation Lookup = Self-Inspection of a Vessel
To search for maritime paperwork to be successful, you must first offer detailed information about the boat.
It is sufficient to have either the hull identification number (HIN) or the official number.
Keep in mind that this search tool is only applicable to boats that have been recorded with the United States Coast Guard and do not apply to pleasure watercraft that have been registered with the state of residence.
When the boat is facing forward, the HIN is often positioned in the stern or rear of the boat, on the starboard or right side, depending on the model.
A registration sticker may be seen on each side of the bow, on either side of the bow. This will tell you whether the Coast Guard has registered the boat or if it has been unregistered by the local authorities.
The sticker is generally in a bit of a square or rectangular shape.
A Vessel's Documented Information
Information such as preferred mortgage filings, ownership details, notifications of lien claims, previous boat owner history, hailing port, and more may be found by a search of the vessel's documents.
It is safe to assume that any data that you access via the application for a search is taken straight from the official registration of the United States Coast Guard.
Because the USCG registration is updated four times a year, there may be inconsistencies in the data you see there.
There may be omissions in the report, no matter how precise it is. You should ensure to do your extensive study before purchasing a secondhand boat, which is very important.
When doing a vessel documentation search, there are a few things to consider.
Please note that you may choose to provide either the HIN or the official number when you submit an inquiry in our system.
You have the option of entering the information in either capital or lower case letters. The results will be based on the precise phrases you entered and will appear on this very same page as you entered them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the information offered by this search engine is subject to change. It may also include typographical or grammatical mistakes or omissions.
As a result, it is suggested that you proceed with caution and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Vessel Documentation Search For Those Who Wish to Learn
Many inaccuracies are caused by certain vessels' files that may have been idle for a lengthy period, maybe even decades. As a result, while this material is still accessible, it may not be correct.
So, while vessel documentation lookup is available, it is not easy to do. You need the correct information access to ship registration records, and you need to know how to review a vessel's documents.
Furthermore, many people are likely unaware that this type of research exists. However, it can be very beneficial to conduct a ship's investigation if you need to determine a ship's history quickly and easily.
If you found this article informative and would like to search for a vessel document, go directly to our website. When you do so, you will conduct a vehicle identification number lookup to receive that information.
Why Makes a “Preferred Mortgage” Preferred?
A Preferred Mortgage Has Priority in Event of Default
A "Preferred Mortgage" has the status of a maritime lien.
As such, it is given priority in the event of a default. Moreover, without the mortgagee’s consent, the Coast Guard cannot make changes to the vessel's documentation, such as altering its name, hailing port, or ownership details.
Click here to apply for a First Preferred Ship Mortgage.
Click here to apply for a Release of Mortgage form.
A One-Stop Shop for First Preferred Ship Mortgage Information
From renewing documentation and applying for initial paperwork to replacing lost forms and conducting vessel searches, the National Documentation Portal offers streamlined solutions. You can also request an Abstract of Title or conduct an online search to gain detailed vessel information.
Remember, our site cannot comment on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Before applying for one, it is recommended that you speak to a maritime lawyer.
Refer to the legal guidelines below for further insights into your circumstances:
Subpart O—Filing and Recording of Instruments—General Provisions
67.200 Instruments eligible for filing and recording.
Only the following listed instruments are eligible for filing and recording:
(a) Bills of sale and instruments in the nature of bills of sale;
(b) Deeds of gift;
(c) Mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(d) Preferred mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(e) Interlender agreements affecting mortgages, preferred mortgages, and related instruments; and
(f) Notices of claim of lien, assignments, amendments, and satisfactions and releases thereof.
67.203 Restrictions on filing and recording.
(a) No instrument will be accepted for filing unless the vessel to which it pertains is the subject of:
(1) A valid Certificate of Documentation; or
(2) An application for initial documentation, exchange of Certificate of Documentation, return to documentation, or for deletion from documentation, which is in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations, submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may not be filed and recorded if it bears a material alteration.
(c) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 (a) or (b) may not be filed and recorded if any vendee or transferee under the instrument is not a citizen of the United States as defined in section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, (46 U.S.C. app. 802) unless the Maritime Administration has consented to the grant to a non-citizen made under the instrument.
(d) The restriction imposed by paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to a bill of sale or deed of gift conveying an interest in a vessel which was neither documented nor last documented pursuant to these regulations or any predecessor regulations thereto at the time the instrument was executed, nor to an instrument conveying an interest in a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.205 Requirement for vessel identification.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must contain sufficient information to clearly identify the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(b) Instruments pertaining to vessels which have been documented must contain the vessel's name and official number, or other unique identifier.
(c) Vessels which have never been documented must be identified by one of the following:
(1) The vessel's Hull Identification Number assigned in accordance with 33 CFR 181.25; or
(2) Other descriptive information, which clearly describes the vessel. Such information may include length, breadth, depth, year of build, name of manufacturer, and any numbers which may have been assigned in accordance with 33 CFR part 173.
67.207 Requirement for date and acknowledgment.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must:
(1) Bear the date of its execution; and
(2) Contain an acknowledgment.
(b) No officer or employee of the Coast Guard is authorized to take such acknowledgments unless the instrument is executed on behalf of the Federal Government of the United States.
67.209 No original instrument requirement.
A copy of the original signed and acknowledged instrument must be presented. The original instrument itself may be presented but is not required. The copy may be delivered to the National Vessel Documentation Center or transmitted by facsimile or in portable document format (.pdf) in accordance with the procedures in §§ 67.218 and 67.219 of this part. Signatures may be affixed manually or digitally.
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
67.211 Requirement for citizenship declaration.
(a) Instruments in the nature of a bill of sale or deed of gift, mortgages, and assignments of mortgages conveying an interest in a documented vessel are ineligible for filing and recording unless accompanied by a declaration of citizenship, except as provided in paragraph (c) and (d) of this section.
(b) Citizenship declarations must be executed on the form prescribed by the Maritime Administration in 46 CFR part 221. These forms are available from the National Vessel Documentation Center and from the Vessel Transfer and Disposal Officer (MAR-745.1), Maritime Administration, United States Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.
(c) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration does not apply to a transaction conveying an interest in a vessel:
(1) Described in 46 CFR 221.11(b)(1) (i) through (iv);
(2) To a person making application for documentation; or
(3) To an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of a State or political subdivision thereof, or a corporate entity which is an agency of any such government or political subdivision.
(d) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration is waived when the instrument(s) presented for filing effects a transfer for which:
(1) The Maritime Administration has given general approval in 46 CFR part 221; or
(2) Written approval of the Maritime Administrator has been obtained in accordance with 46 CFR part 221.
(e) If the transfer of interest is one which requires written approval of the Maritime Administrator in accordance with rules in 46 CFR part 221, evidence of that approval must be presented for filing with the instrument effecting the transfer of interest.
Note:
If the grantee(s) of an ownership interest in a vessel described in paragraphs (c)(1) or (d) of this section do(es) not make application for documentation, a declaration of citizenship may be required in order to ensure that the vessel so conveyed retains any coastwise privileges to which it may be entitled.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.213 Place of filing and recording.
(a) All instruments submitted for filing and recording must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) All instruments are recorded at the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.215 Date and time of filing.
(a) An instrument is deemed filed at the actual date and time at which the instrument is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Any materials submitted to supplement an instrument after the instrument is filed are deemed part of the original filing and relate back to the date and time of that filing.
(b) If filing of an instrument is subject to termination in accordance with § 67.217(a) and a new instrument is filed as a substitute for the original instrument, the filing of the original instrument will be terminated in accordance with § 67.217(c) and the substitute instrument will be considered a new filing. The substitute instrument will be deemed filed at the actual time and date it is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.217 Termination of filing and disposition of instruments.
(a) The filing of an instrument is subject to termination if:
(1) It is determined that the instrument cannot be recorded because the instrument itself is not in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations in this part;
(2) The filing was not made in compliance with the requirements of § 67.213;
(3) The Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted with the instrument(s) was not made in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations of this part;
(4) The owner of the vessel submits an Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593), with mortgagee consent, if applicable; or
(5) Another instrument is filed evidencing satisfaction or release of the subject instrument and the subject instrument is one described in subpart Q of this part.
(b) Ninety days prior to terminating the filing pursuant to a reason listed in paragraphs (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the National Vessel Documentation Center will send written notice detailing the reasons the filing is subject to termination to the following person(s) and any agent known to be acting on behalf of the same:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien; or
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument.
(c) If the reason(s) which subject the filing to termination remain uncorrected for a period of 90 days after the notice described in paragraph (b) of this section is sent, or upon receipt of the request for withdrawal described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or satisfaction or release as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the instrument will be returned to either:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien;
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument; or
(5) An agent for any appropriate party, provided that the agent has filed with the Coast Guard a writing bearing the original signature of the appropriate party(ies) clearly identifying the instrument(s) being returned and stating that the instrument(s) may be returned to the agent.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.218 Optional filing of instruments in portable document format as attachments to electronic mail.
(a) Any instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may be submitted in portable document format (.pdf) as an attachment to electronic mail (e-mail) for filing at the National Vessel Documentation Center. The e-mail address to be used for instrument filing may be obtained from the National Vessel Documentation Center Web site. If the instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format pertains to a vessel that is not a currently documented vessel, a completed Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement Certificate of Documentation, or Return to Documentation (form CG-1258) or a letter application for deletion from documentation must already be on file with the National Vessel Documentation Center or must be submitted in .pdf format with the instrument being submitted in .pdf format for filing.
(b) All instruments submitted for filing in .pdf format must be clearly legible, be submitted from 81⁄2 inch by 11 inch paper in not less than 10-point type size, and submitted as an attachment to e-mail.
(c) The e-mail required by paragraph (b) should indicate:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the person submitting the instrument for filing in .pdf format;
(2) The number of pages submitted for filing in .pdf format; and
(3) The name of the vessel, official number or hull identification number of the vessel(s), and the name(s) of the owner(s) of the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(d) The filing of any instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format is terminated and the instrument will be returned to the submitter if the instrument is subject to termination for any cause under § 67.217(a).
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
A "Preferred Mortgage" has the status of a maritime lien.
As such, it is given priority in the event of a default. Moreover, without the mortgagee’s consent, the Coast Guard cannot make changes to the vessel's documentation, such as altering its name, hailing port, or ownership details.
Click here to apply for a First Preferred Ship Mortgage.
Click here to apply for a Release of Mortgage form.
A One-Stop Shop for First Preferred Ship Mortgage Information
From renewing documentation and applying for initial paperwork to replacing lost forms and conducting vessel searches, the National Documentation Portal offers streamlined solutions. You can also request an Abstract of Title or conduct an online search to gain detailed vessel information.
Remember, our site cannot comment on whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. Before applying for one, it is recommended that you speak to a maritime lawyer.
Refer to the legal guidelines below for further insights into your circumstances:
Subpart O—Filing and Recording of Instruments—General Provisions
67.200 Instruments eligible for filing and recording.
Only the following listed instruments are eligible for filing and recording:
(a) Bills of sale and instruments in the nature of bills of sale;
(b) Deeds of gift;
(c) Mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(d) Preferred mortgages and assignments, assumptions, supplements, amendments, subordinations, satisfactions, and releases thereof;
(e) Interlender agreements affecting mortgages, preferred mortgages, and related instruments; and
(f) Notices of claim of lien, assignments, amendments, and satisfactions and releases thereof.
67.203 Restrictions on filing and recording.
(a) No instrument will be accepted for filing unless the vessel to which it pertains is the subject of:
(1) A valid Certificate of Documentation; or
(2) An application for initial documentation, exchange of Certificate of Documentation, return to documentation, or for deletion from documentation, which is in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations, submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may not be filed and recorded if it bears a material alteration.
(c) An instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 (a) or (b) may not be filed and recorded if any vendee or transferee under the instrument is not a citizen of the United States as defined in section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, (46 U.S.C. app. 802) unless the Maritime Administration has consented to the grant to a non-citizen made under the instrument.
(d) The restriction imposed by paragraph (c) of this section does not apply to a bill of sale or deed of gift conveying an interest in a vessel which was neither documented nor last documented pursuant to these regulations or any predecessor regulations thereto at the time the instrument was executed, nor to an instrument conveying an interest in a vessel identified in § 67.11(b).
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.205 Requirement for vessel identification.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must contain sufficient information to clearly identify the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(b) Instruments pertaining to vessels which have been documented must contain the vessel's name and official number, or other unique identifier.
(c) Vessels which have never been documented must be identified by one of the following:
(1) The vessel's Hull Identification Number assigned in accordance with 33 CFR 181.25; or
(2) Other descriptive information, which clearly describes the vessel. Such information may include length, breadth, depth, year of build, name of manufacturer, and any numbers which may have been assigned in accordance with 33 CFR part 173.
67.207 Requirement for date and acknowledgment.
(a) Every instrument presented for filing and recording must:
(1) Bear the date of its execution; and
(2) Contain an acknowledgment.
(b) No officer or employee of the Coast Guard is authorized to take such acknowledgments unless the instrument is executed on behalf of the Federal Government of the United States.
67.209 No original instrument requirement.
A copy of the original signed and acknowledged instrument must be presented. The original instrument itself may be presented but is not required. The copy may be delivered to the National Vessel Documentation Center or transmitted by facsimile or in portable document format (.pdf) in accordance with the procedures in §§ 67.218 and 67.219 of this part. Signatures may be affixed manually or digitally.
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
67.211 Requirement for citizenship declaration.
(a) Instruments in the nature of a bill of sale or deed of gift, mortgages, and assignments of mortgages conveying an interest in a documented vessel are ineligible for filing and recording unless accompanied by a declaration of citizenship, except as provided in paragraph (c) and (d) of this section.
(b) Citizenship declarations must be executed on the form prescribed by the Maritime Administration in 46 CFR part 221. These forms are available from the National Vessel Documentation Center and from the Vessel Transfer and Disposal Officer (MAR-745.1), Maritime Administration, United States Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590.
(c) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration does not apply to a transaction conveying an interest in a vessel:
(1) Described in 46 CFR 221.11(b)(1) (i) through (iv);
(2) To a person making application for documentation; or
(3) To an entity of the Federal Government of the United States or of a State or political subdivision thereof, or a corporate entity which is an agency of any such government or political subdivision.
(d) The requirement for presentation of a citizenship declaration is waived when the instrument(s) presented for filing effects a transfer for which:
(1) The Maritime Administration has given general approval in 46 CFR part 221; or
(2) Written approval of the Maritime Administrator has been obtained in accordance with 46 CFR part 221.
(e) If the transfer of interest is one which requires written approval of the Maritime Administrator in accordance with rules in 46 CFR part 221, evidence of that approval must be presented for filing with the instrument effecting the transfer of interest.
Note:
If the grantee(s) of an ownership interest in a vessel described in paragraphs (c)(1) or (d) of this section do(es) not make application for documentation, a declaration of citizenship may be required in order to ensure that the vessel so conveyed retains any coastwise privileges to which it may be entitled.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
67.213 Place of filing and recording.
(a) All instruments submitted for filing and recording must be submitted to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) All instruments are recorded at the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.215 Date and time of filing.
(a) An instrument is deemed filed at the actual date and time at which the instrument is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Any materials submitted to supplement an instrument after the instrument is filed are deemed part of the original filing and relate back to the date and time of that filing.
(b) If filing of an instrument is subject to termination in accordance with § 67.217(a) and a new instrument is filed as a substitute for the original instrument, the filing of the original instrument will be terminated in accordance with § 67.217(c) and the substitute instrument will be considered a new filing. The substitute instrument will be deemed filed at the actual time and date it is received by the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.217 Termination of filing and disposition of instruments.
(a) The filing of an instrument is subject to termination if:
(1) It is determined that the instrument cannot be recorded because the instrument itself is not in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations in this part;
(2) The filing was not made in compliance with the requirements of § 67.213;
(3) The Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; or Redocumentation (form CG-1258) submitted with the instrument(s) was not made in substantial compliance with the applicable regulations of this part;
(4) The owner of the vessel submits an Application, Consent, and Approval for Withdrawal of Application for Documentation or Exchange of Certificate of Documentation (form CG-4593), with mortgagee consent, if applicable; or
(5) Another instrument is filed evidencing satisfaction or release of the subject instrument and the subject instrument is one described in subpart Q of this part.
(b) Ninety days prior to terminating the filing pursuant to a reason listed in paragraphs (a) (1), (2), or (3) of this section, the National Vessel Documentation Center will send written notice detailing the reasons the filing is subject to termination to the following person(s) and any agent known to be acting on behalf of the same:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien; or
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument.
(c) If the reason(s) which subject the filing to termination remain uncorrected for a period of 90 days after the notice described in paragraph (b) of this section is sent, or upon receipt of the request for withdrawal described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or satisfaction or release as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the instrument will be returned to either:
(1) The applicant for documentation, if a bill of sale, instrument in the nature of a bill of sale, or a deed of gift;
(2) The mortgagee or assignee, if a mortgage or assignment or amendment thereof;
(3) The claimant, if a notice of claim of lien;
(4) The lender first named in an interlender agreement affecting a mortgage, preferred mortgage, or related instrument; or
(5) An agent for any appropriate party, provided that the agent has filed with the Coast Guard a writing bearing the original signature of the appropriate party(ies) clearly identifying the instrument(s) being returned and stating that the instrument(s) may be returned to the agent.
[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 31605, June 15, 1995]
67.218 Optional filing of instruments in portable document format as attachments to electronic mail.
(a) Any instrument identified as eligible for filing and recording under § 67.200 may be submitted in portable document format (.pdf) as an attachment to electronic mail (e-mail) for filing at the National Vessel Documentation Center. The e-mail address to be used for instrument filing may be obtained from the National Vessel Documentation Center Web site. If the instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format pertains to a vessel that is not a currently documented vessel, a completed Application for Initial Issue, Exchange, or Replacement Certificate of Documentation, or Return to Documentation (form CG-1258) or a letter application for deletion from documentation must already be on file with the National Vessel Documentation Center or must be submitted in .pdf format with the instrument being submitted in .pdf format for filing.
(b) All instruments submitted for filing in .pdf format must be clearly legible, be submitted from 81⁄2 inch by 11 inch paper in not less than 10-point type size, and submitted as an attachment to e-mail.
(c) The e-mail required by paragraph (b) should indicate:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the person submitting the instrument for filing in .pdf format;
(2) The number of pages submitted for filing in .pdf format; and
(3) The name of the vessel, official number or hull identification number of the vessel(s), and the name(s) of the owner(s) of the vessel(s) to which the instrument relates.
(d) The filing of any instrument submitted for filing in .pdf format is terminated and the instrument will be returned to the submitter if the instrument is subject to termination for any cause under § 67.217(a).
[USCG-2007-28098, 72 FR 42312, Aug. 2, 2007]
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 to Do a Boat Documentation Search and What it Will Tell You
A boat documentation search allows you to find out information about a specific vessel. One of the most common reasons for doing so is if you are looking for a used boat to purchase but there might also be other reasons for a search. The information you get from the search will tell you vital stats and background specifics about the vessel so you can determine if it’s a good choice to buy or not. If you’re new to the process, taking it step-by-step will help you get from start to finish with ease. Here’s how to access the boat search and what you’ll find when it’s complete.
[caption id="attachment_157399" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vessel Search[/caption]
Gather the Necessary Information
You can easily do an online boat documentation search, but you’ll need an important piece of information, which you’ll input into the system to generate the vessel’s particulars. That is the HIN (hull identification number), which is the official number assigned to the boat. You can enter it in capital or lowercase letters, but it must match exactly. If you put in the wrong number, you will end up with information that doesn’t match the boat you’re looking for. You can use the online system to pay for your search as well, making it simple and quick to get the job done.
The Information You’ll Get
The data produced when you carry out a boat documentation search includes information about ownership, preferred mortgage filings, notices for lien claims, and other supplemental information about the vessel. If the boat is registered beyond the federal level, whether it’s at the state level or foreign registries, you may get additional information beyond this. It’s also important to keep in mind that there could be facts about the boat that do not come on a search if they have not been shared with the appropriate entities.
Vessel Particulars
In addition to the above-mentioned information, your vessel search can also provide information about the boat itself. That includes the name, official number, hull identification number, and a flag associated with the boat. The report might also show the dimensions of the craft, including its length and layout. You may also find service and maintenance information and tonnage facts. The report could also share documents and certificates associated with the boat, including the Certificate of Documentation.
What You Won’t Find
As of 2018, the personally identifiable information (PII) was removed from a boat documentation search. That means you won’t have access to the owner or managing owner’s name or address. If you need this proof, you’ll have to search for it elsewhere. You can request a U.S. Coast Guard Abstract of Title on the USCG website.
Doing a boat documentation search can turn up valuable information if you want to know more about a specific vessel, whether you’re looking to buy it or otherwise need the facts about it. The process is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Ready to find what you need? Contact us and we can help you get the process going.
[caption id="attachment_157399" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vessel Search[/caption]
Gather the Necessary Information
You can easily do an online boat documentation search, but you’ll need an important piece of information, which you’ll input into the system to generate the vessel’s particulars. That is the HIN (hull identification number), which is the official number assigned to the boat. You can enter it in capital or lowercase letters, but it must match exactly. If you put in the wrong number, you will end up with information that doesn’t match the boat you’re looking for. You can use the online system to pay for your search as well, making it simple and quick to get the job done.
The Information You’ll Get
The data produced when you carry out a boat documentation search includes information about ownership, preferred mortgage filings, notices for lien claims, and other supplemental information about the vessel. If the boat is registered beyond the federal level, whether it’s at the state level or foreign registries, you may get additional information beyond this. It’s also important to keep in mind that there could be facts about the boat that do not come on a search if they have not been shared with the appropriate entities.
Vessel Particulars
In addition to the above-mentioned information, your vessel search can also provide information about the boat itself. That includes the name, official number, hull identification number, and a flag associated with the boat. The report might also show the dimensions of the craft, including its length and layout. You may also find service and maintenance information and tonnage facts. The report could also share documents and certificates associated with the boat, including the Certificate of Documentation.
What You Won’t Find
As of 2018, the personally identifiable information (PII) was removed from a boat documentation search. That means you won’t have access to the owner or managing owner’s name or address. If you need this proof, you’ll have to search for it elsewhere. You can request a U.S. Coast Guard Abstract of Title on the USCG website.
Doing a boat documentation search can turn up valuable information if you want to know more about a specific vessel, whether you’re looking to buy it or otherwise need the facts about it. The process is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Ready to find what you need? Contact us and we can help you get the process going.