Do you keep up with Coast Guard safety alerts? Do you check them every now and then before you go out on the water? It’s entirely likely that you don’t. That said, it can be worth it to check in with them from time to time. These alerts provide pertinent information that may not be…
If you are the owner of a large pleasure vessel like a yacht or the owner of a commercial vessel for your business, getting documentation for your boat is important to you. The documentation is required by law for all commercial vessels, and for large pleasure boats, it can be an important component for you…
Once you have your craft and your certification or license the next thing to think about is safety. It is a good idea to think of your boat as a vehicle, which in fact it is. It moves like any other type of vehicle, whether powered by muscle, wind, or motor. The only difference is…
Do You Need To Take Out A Preferred Ship Mortgage? Spending money on your first vessel can be a big investment, and many new boat owners choose to opt for a mortgage on their boat in order to afford the cost. Going to a bank or lending society and requesting money in order to purchase…
If you are the owner of a USCG vessel, you must be aware of the new vessel registration. Since the Maritime Transportation Security Act was passed in 2002, all vessels operating inside the United States seas have been obliged to register with the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The owners of boats are being requested…
When you decide to buy a boat, you will need to supply the proper paperwork. In order to register with the U.S. Coast Guard. One such document is a boat bill of sale, which legitimizes the seller and proves that they made the purchase. Completing this essential piece of paperwork is important for both buyer…
Has the weather gotten so nice in your area that you feel like you just have to take your vessel out on the water? More and more places all over America are feeling that spring has finally sprung and summer is soon to follow. If your vessel has spent all winter in storage, now may…
As a captain, ensuring the safety and success of your voyages is your top priority. One powerful tool that can greatly assist you in this endeavor is the Documentation Lookup. Provided by the National Documentation Portal, a private agency specializing in USCG Documentation processing to NVDC, this service empowers captains to access critical information for…
Before getting yourself involved in a boat transaction, you will try to gather as much information as possible. With that in mind, you may find it reasonable to look for your vessel online on the USCG website before purchasing the watercraft. You will notice, however, that it is not possible to conduct the vessel documentation…
When you want to register your vessel in US waters, you need to contact the US Coast Guard. They are the people who document vessels operating from US ports. Anyone who owns a car knows that they have to sign a lot of forms to get the necessary paperwork to drive on the highway, and…