An endorsement is a declaration of how your vessel will be used—its official purpose as recognized by the Coast Guard. You’ll choose an endorsement when you file for your initial marine documentation.
Whether your vessel will engage in commercial activities, fishing operations, passenger transport, or personal recreation, your chosen endorsement determines what you’re legally allowed to do on U.S. navigable waters and beyond.
Through our portal, vessel owners can easily select, update, or change their endorsement as part of the online documentation process.
What is The Role of an Endorsement in Marine Documentation
Endorsements define your vessel’s operational category under federal law. According to 46 CFR 67.3(Endorsement), each documented vessel must carry one or more endorsements on its Certificate of Documentation that specify its permitted activities. This regulation helps ensure that all vessels on U.S. waters operate within legal parameters that match their intended use.
When you apply for documentation, you aren’t simply registering your vessel’s ownership—you’re also specifying how it will be used. That’s what the endorsement represents: a clear, legally recognized statement of intent.
Each endorsement allows a vessel to operate in certain trades or services while preventing misuse under other categories. For example, a boat endorsed solely for recreation cannot legally be used for commercial transport.
The endorsement system promotes compliance with maritime laws, fisheries management, and trade regulations, while also maintaining a clear record within the Coast Guard’s registry. Through our portal, vessel owners can complete and submit their endorsement selections directly online, streamlining what was once a highly technical process into a more accessible, straightforward experience.
The Four Main Marine Documentation Endorsement Types
Each vessel falls under one of four primary endorsements: Fishery, Coastwise, Registry, or Recreational.
Selecting the correct endorsement ensures your operations comply with U.S. maritime regulations and keeps your Certificate of Documentation valid for your intended activities.
Fishery Endorsement
A Fishery endorsement applies to vessels that engage in commercial fishing activities in U.S. navigable waters or the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This endorsement authorizes the vessel to harvest or process fish and marine life for commercial purposes.
To qualify for a Fishery endorsement, your vessel must meet specific ownership and citizenship requirements outlined by the Coast Guard. Only vessels owned by U.S. citizens can carry this endorsement, as it grants the right to participate in domestic fisheries under federal law.
If you operate within the fishing industry, this endorsement ensures that your operations are compliant with both environmental and trade laws, which govern everything from catch quotas to safety and navigation standards.
Coastwise Endorsement
The Coastwise endorsement authorizes the transport of goods or passengers between U.S. ports or along U.S. coastal waters. It’s most commonly chosen by commercial operators, ferry services, and transport businesses that operate within domestic routes.
To qualify, the vessel must be built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and otherwise meet Coast Guard standards for trade eligibility.
This endorsement plays a critical role in protecting American maritime commerce and ensuring fair competition among domestic operators.
If you’re planning to engage in commercial operations that involve moving passengers or merchandise along the coast, the Coastwise endorsement is essential.
Registry Endorsement
The Registry endorsement is designed for vessels engaged in foreign trade or other international operations. This endorsement allows vessels to operate outside of U.S. waters while maintaining U.S. documentation, which can be beneficial for trade, security, and financing purposes.
A vessel holding a Registry endorsement may transport goods or passengers between the United States and foreign ports. It also allows for participation in international shipping contracts under the protection of U.S. law.
Many owners choose this endorsement because it provides recognition in global maritime commerce and can simplify transactions involving a preferred ship mortgage—a common financial instrument in the shipping industry that uses a vessel as collateral for a loan.
By choosing this endorsement, you affirm that your vessel will operate in a global trade environment rather than within domestic routes.
Our portal enables you to select the Registry endorsement directly within your marine documentation application, ensuring your vessel’s international operations are backed by official U.S. Coast Guard recognition.
Recreational Endorsement
The Recreational endorsement applies to vessels used solely for personal enjoyment, leisure, or family outings. While every documented vessel can be used for recreational purposes, this endorsement explicitly limits the vessel to non-commercial activity.
That means a vessel with a Recreational endorsement cannot legally transport goods or passengers for hire or participate in any trade activity. It’s intended exclusively for pleasure boating, private cruising, or other personal uses.
For most private vessel owners, this is the most common endorsement type. It’s ideal for those who use their boats for fishing trips, sailing excursions, or family recreation on the water.
How to Choose the Right Marine Documentation Endorsement for Your Vessel
This decision shapes the scope of your legal operations and your compliance obligations. If your plans change, you’ll need to update your endorsement to reflect your new intended use.
When you complete your application through our portal, you’ll be asked to select your endorsement as part of the initial documentation process. We provide access to the appropriate Coast Guard forms, allowing vessel owners to complete this step accurately and efficiently.
- For commercial fishing, choose the Fishery endorsement.
- For passenger or cargo transport between U.S. ports, select the Coastwise endorsement.
- For international trade or foreign operations, choose the Registry endorsement.
- For personal or leisure use only, choose the Recreational endorsement.
Selecting the wrong endorsement can limit your ability to operate as intended or result in noncompliance with Coast Guard regulations.
Can You Change Your Marine Documentation Endorsement?
Yes.
Your operational needs may evolve over time, and the Coast Guard allows vessel owners to change their endorsements as necessary. For instance, if your vessel originally held a Recreational endorsement but you later decide to use it for commercial purposes, you must update the endorsement to reflect that new activity.
To do so, you’ll need to complete a “Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator” form. This form allows the Coast Guard to update your Certificate of Documentation so that it accurately reflects your vessel’s current use.
Our portal provides secure access to this form, making it easy to submit your request for a change of endorsement directly online. Once submitted, your updated endorsement ensures that your operations remain compliant with Coast Guard requirements and federal maritime law.
Changing your endorsement is also necessary when a vessel transitions into a different phase of operation—for example, when a fishing vessel is sold to a new owner who intends to use it for recreation. The documentation process ensures that each vessel’s record remains accurate and transparent in the federal registry.
Maintaining Compliance Through Proper Marine Documentation
To remain compliant, vessel owners must ensure that their documentation and endorsements are always current and accurate. This includes keeping your Certificate of Documentation valid through timely USCG documentation renewal and updating any details that change over time.
Renewing your vessel documentation on time is essential for maintaining legal status and operational privileges. Failing to renew may lead to loss of documentation, which could delay commercial operations or impact eligibility for certain maritime activities.
Additionally, accurate endorsements help the Coast Guard. Specifically, they help the Coast Guard manage maritime safety, trade, and more. They also play a role in legal verification processes, such as ownership transfer, financing, and recordkeeping through a vessel documentation search.
How Can I Make the Marine Documentation Process Simpler?
By going through our portal. Our goal is to make the marine documentation process faster, easier, and more secure. We provide direct access to official Coast Guard forms, including those for initial documentation, changes of endorsement, and renewals.
Our service is designed to remove unnecessary obstacles, allowing vessel owners to complete their paperwork accurately and efficiently. By providing a centralized online portal, we make it possible to manage every aspect of your documentation from one convenient place.
Whether you are applying for your vessel’s first endorsement, changing your existing trade indicator, or submitting a renewal, our platform ensures that your information is submitted safely and properly formatted for Coast Guard review.