Frequently Asked Questions


It?s the national form of registration for boats. Dating back to the 11th Act of the very First Congress, it?s literally one of the government’s oldest functions. For international purposes, it provides evidence of nationality. Additionally, it amidst vessels to certain restricted trades, like the coastwise trade and the fisheries, all while providing for unhindered commerce between the states. For more than 90 years, the availability of preferred mortgages on documented vessels has enhanced vessel financing.

Any vessel that measures at least five net tons and is owned fully by a citizen of the United States (exceptions include certain vessels made for responding to oil spills).

You do if you plan on using your vessel in fishing activities on the navigable waters of the United States or in the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). You also do if your vessel meets the above specifications and is going to be used in coastwise trade in those same areas (unless it’s exempt from documentation.) Coastwise trade is defined, more or less, as transporting passengers or merchandise between points in America or the EEZ. Towboats operating between points in the US or the EEZ must be documented, just as dredges in those same areas must be, too.

It?s important to remember that ?net tons? don?t measure weight. It actually measures your vessel?s volume. A good rule of thumb: a majority of vessels that are longer than 25 feet measure five net tons at minimum.

For more information about how tonnage is determined, please call: 1-800-535-8570 or email: info@nvdcforms.us


Yes. Vessels are exempt from the requirement for documentation if they don?t operate on the fisheries in the EEZ or on the navigable waters of the US. Other vessels which are exempt include those which are Coastwise qualified, non-self-propelled vessels used on the rivers, lakes, or within a harbor of America or the internal waters or canal of any state. (That does, however, include the Great Lakes.)

Absolutely. Endorsements for coastwise, fishery, recreation, or registry can be made on a Certificate of Documentation. That said, any vessel can be used for recreation, no matter the endorsement. That said, a vessel with a ?recreational? endorsement can?t be used for anything else. Also: ?Registry? vessels are mostly used for foreign trade.

Basically, you need to be able to demonstrate ownership of the vessel, that you?re eligible for the endorsement you?re seeking, and United States citizenship.

Is the vessel new and never previously documented? Then, you can establish ownership by submitting a ?Builder?s Certification, naming the documentation applicant as the person the vessel was built for or to whom the vessel was first transferred. Additionally, a copy of the State Registration or Title, a transfer on a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, or foreign registration demonstrating the applicant’s vessel ownership are all acceptable.?

Is the vessel previously owned? In that case, the applicant must be able to present bills of sale or some other evidence that the vessel was transferred from the person who last titled, documented, or registered the vessel, or to whom the vessel was transferred on a Manufacturer?s Certificate of Origin or Builder?s certification.

Was it transferred by something other than a bill of a sale? Then you want to contact one of our pro documentation processors at: 1-800-535-8570 or email: info@nvdcforms.us

Verifying the applicant’s social security can establish citizenship. For the purposes of documentation, people, as well as partnerships, corporations, and other entities that can hold legal title can be deemed citizens. There are some additional rules. For example, in terms of corporations, they have to be registered in a state or the United States, the CEO and chairman of the board of directors must be United States citizens, and there can be no more than a minority of the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum may be non-citizens. Additionally, at least ? of the stock (75%) must be vested in United States citizens for a coastwise or fisheries endorsement.

To be used in fisheries or coastwise trade, evidence that a vessel was built in America is required. Normally, that evidence is established through the submission of a Builder?s Certification. To be valid, this form has to be completed by those who constructed the vessel or oversaw its construction. Alternatively, it could be completed by an official of the company that built the vessel who examined the records of the company to determine the facts of the build. A copy of this WILL NOT be accepted, so the Original Builder?s Certification or Facts of Built Letter must be presented with your submission.

Instead of displaying official numbers on the hull exterior, documented vessels identify by name and hailing port. When the application for documentation is submitted, it must include a name for the vessel. This name must be composed of Latin alphabet letters or Roman or Arabic numbers. It may not exceed 33 characters. Additionally, this name cannot be identical, either actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea, nor can it can contain or be phonetically identical to indecent, obscene, or profane language, including racial or ethnic epithets. After this has been established, a vessel?s name can only be changed through an application, fees, and the consent of the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center. Hailing ports can be useful in identifying vessels, as no rule prohibits the duplication of names for documented vessels.

The abbreviation ?NO? must precede the official number assigned to the documented vessel. Block-type Arabic numerals must be used, and they have to be at least three inches high. These must be placed on some interior structural part of the hull that is clearly visible. Additionally, this number must be permanently affixed.? This must be done so that any removal, replacement, or even alteration would be obvious, causing damage or scarring to the surrounding area.?

For a recreational vessel, the name and hailing port must be marked together on an exterior part of the hull that is clearly visible. A commercial vessel?s name must be marked on the starboard and port bow. The hailing port and vessel name must also be marked on the stern. Made in letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals that are clearly legible, these markings may be made by materials that result in durable markings that are at least four inches in height. Hailing port markings must include a place as well as a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. For these markings, the state can be abbreviated.

Yes. The hailing port and/or name can be changed by going to this page and filling out the form online:?

Should you want any assistance with this, we?re here for you. We can walk you through the process at: For more, email:?info@nvdcforms.us

Simply put, because so many vessels have multiple owners. One must be designated as the managing owner so that the right person is sent mail concerning the vessel.

A mortgage that is given status as a maritime lien is considered a ?preferred mortgage.? In the event of default, it takes a certain priority. Furthermore, the Coast Guard is not allowed to make documentation changes that include but are not limited to, changing the vessel ownership, name, and hailing port without the mortgagee?s consent. As such, many financial institutions make vessels that are documentation eligible to be documented and to have preferred mortgages recorded against them.

Right here at this secure site. There, you can complete them all online. Once completed, the forms will be forwarded automatically to a professional Documentation Processor. They?ll review it, fixing any errors they find that could cause documentation to be delayed by weeks or even months. This speeds up the process considerably, all while eliminating deficiencies. If you would like a documentation processor to walk you through the process, call. For additional information or inquiries, email info@nvdcforms.us for additional information or inquiries.

You do not. Your application can be submitted as well as paid for through the convenient online portal. Additionally, this online portal is not subject to the delays caused by submitting your application(s) in the mail, making it far more advantageous. Any application submitted through this website is reviewed promptly by a professional, ensuring faster processing. For further assistance with your application, you can contact a documentation processor at . For more info or inquiries, email??info@nvdcforms.us

You do this by obtaining an ?Abstract of Title.? This form shows all of the mortgages, notices of claim of lien, and mortgages filed and recorded by the Coast Guard. You can request this form at this page: Abstract of Title

Do you have any inquiries or require further assistance? If so, you can contact documentation processors at or email info@nvdcforms.us

A documented vessel is not exempt from state jurisdiction. In fact, all documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. Vessel documentation must be shown to state law enforcement personnel upon demand. Some states require documented vessels to be registered (albeit not numbered) and to display state decals. These decals will show that the vessels are in compliance with state requirements.

A vessel?s tender or dinghy is not covered by the vessel?s documentation. Those kinds of craft fall under the motorboat jurisdiction numbering laws of the state of principal use. For further information, it is recommended that you contact your state agency that handles the registration or numbering of motorboats.

You may complete a Bill of Sale when the sale is finalized. Then, the new owner will have to complete a Transfer application. To do so conveniently and quickly, use this link: Transfer Application

Should there be an outstanding mortgage on the vessel, the lender/mortgagee is strongly recommended to complete a Satisfaction of Mortgage form. As the vessel has an outstanding mortgage, it cannot be removed from documentation. To complete a Satisfaction of Mortgage form, use this link: Satisfaction of Mortgage Application


It is valid for one year from the date of issue, so long as there are no changes other than a change of the owner?s address. A Certificate has to be renewed annually. You can submit a Renewal application conveniently and securely here.?

Additionally: at our site, you now have the option to have your documentation automatically renewed for up to five consecutive years. For peace of mind, and not having to deal with the stress of having to renew your documentation every year, this is a great option. If you want assistance or have any further inquiries, you can contact a documentation processor at or email info@nvdcforms.us

It cannot. However, a Certificate of Documentation that?s been lost can be replaced by completing an application for Replacement. That can be done conveniently and securely here.?

Do you require assistance or have any inquiries? Contact documentation processors at or email info@nvdcforms.us

You do not. Instead, simply fill out our online Renewal form securely and conveniently here.

You can. Submit a Renewal application conveniently and securely right here.?

Keep in mind: if you renew your Certificate of Documentation before the expiration month, the new Certificate of Documentation will be produced with a one-year validity which will, in turn, cause the current Certificate of Documentation to become invalid, thus shortening its one-year validity.?

Failing to submit your Renewal of documentation before the expiration date will require your documentation to be Reinstated. You can submit a Reinstatement application securely and conveniently here.?

If you have any further inquiries or require assistance, contact a documentation processor at or email?info@nvdcforms.us

Submit your change of address by filling out our online Change of Address form securely and conveniently available through our site. Many do so at the time of renewal of their Certificate of Documentation, as they can annotate the new address in the Renewal application.?

Submit the Change of Address application here.

Submit a Renewal Application here.


Yes. Request priority handling by selecting ?Priority Request/Rush Processing? under the section labeled ?PLEASE SELECT ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOU WISH TO HAVE PROCESSED.? Do this before checking out.

It is. You can get a coastwise waiver, called a ?MARAD Waiver,? securely and conveniently here.?

If you have any further inquiries or require assistance, contact documentation processors at or email info@nvdcforms.us

You can. Faxing requests for Letters of Deletion, Certificates of Documentation, Certificates of Ownership as well as recorded instruments like Bills of Sale, Preferred Mortgages, Satisfactions of Mortgage, and Notices of Claim of Lien in combination to mailing will require an additional Certified Copy fee of $34 for every item.