If you own a boat in the United States, you need to register it with the Coast Guard so that it may legally travel the waterways. If you are not a U.S. citizen but want to operate your boat in U.S. waters, you must process U.S. vessel documentation with the USCG.
All boats operating in U.S. waters above 10 meters in length must be registered and documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. Exactly does it imply when we claim something is “properly documented?” When a ship is said to be “documented,” it means that it has been officially recorded and that a specific document or collection of papers has been issued. The official title for this paper is “Certificate of Documentation” (COD). Consider a few of the best benefits:
Increased Protection Against Illegal Activities
Documenting your boat in the United States has numerous advantages, but it’s only suited for some individuals or some boats. Having a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation makes your yacht far more difficult to hijack or transfer to a fake owner. The high market value of documented boats makes it simpler to locate a buyer ready to complete the appropriate documentation, facilitating a quicker sale.
Whether or not you may sell a boat that has been recorded depends on where you reside and how close you are to regions where ships are often abandoned or left on dry ground. Federal registration comes with its own set of charges and limitations, so it’s not necessarily the best choice if you don’t intend to take your boat outside of the nation and aren’t very concerned with having the maximum degree of protection. Still, if you’re interested in correctly recording your watercraft, each state has unique requirements, so be sure to do your homework before plunging in.
Faster Response Times in Emergencies
Time is essential when working with the U.S. Coast Guard. It might be life and death if aid doesn’t arrive during an emergency. For this reason, boat owners should consider registering their vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
What happens if an accident occurs, a fire breaks out, or someone goes overboard without a life jacket, and no one is wearing one? (Which is also an excellent reason to have your boat documented). The USCG has authority over all navigable waterways inside the United States. Thus they’ll react to these sorts of calls 24/7/365.
With paperwork, they can locate your boat quickly—unlike unregistered watercraft, which may be nearly anywhere. Moreover, they can provide aid more quickly than they would be able to do since they know precisely where to search for it in their database.
Easier International Travel
Most people’s minds automatically conjure up images of airplanes when they consider going overseas. However, it is also feasible to get across the pond by boat. The difficulty with this form of travel is that if your ship doesn’t have the correct papers, you could get into some problems when you reach foreign seas.
The proper U.S. vessel documentation is crucial to avoid trouble with the law when visiting other nations. Buying a hull identification number is the first step in correctly documenting your yacht (HIN). After you have earned this number, the United States Coast Guard will award you a certificate of documentation.
The certificate will include the ship’s name, home port, and registered owner. The last step is to fill out an application for marine insurance. Having all this documentation before you embark on your boating adventure will guarantee a smooth and safe international cruise!
Reduced US Vessel Documentation and Hassle-Free Transactions
The United States is one of just a handful of nations that mandates all boats have legal paperwork. However, individuals who value order in their documentation will find it advantageous to do so since doing so has some advantages that make it well worth the time and effort involved.
The ease with which it expedites customs clearance and other bureaucratic processes is unquestionably the most significant benefit. You may have to pay for these papers in other countries, but not here! U.S. vessels are not subject to state taxes on vessel registration since they are federally regulated. This service’s cheap cost is another plus; not only is it typically provided at no cost, but even if payment is required, the rate is still likely to be far lower than you’d pay elsewhere.
All types of payments associated with boat paperwork in the United States are almost certainly less than in any other nation with identical restrictions, and this is true not only for vessel registration charges.
With Vessel Documentation Online, LLC, you can get your boat registered and documented in the United States. They will guide you through purchasing a ship, inspecting it, making necessary repairs, and correctly reporting it by federal regulations. You can reach them at 1-(866)-981-8783.