In the process of determining whether or not to document your vessel, have you ever wondered what exactly the US Vessel Registry is? Have you thought about why you might want to have your vessel on it? The registry is anything but new. Indeed, its roots run deep, tracing back to the very beginning of…
What comes to mind when you think of “filling out US Vessel Registration?” For many vessel owners, the images are not kind ones: vessel owners hunched over forms, meticulously and nervous writing out the proper words in hopes that they don’t make a single mistake. Or, alternately, perhaps you imagine being in a dark room,…
When February comes to an end and gives way to March, in most of North America, that means that spring is right around the corner. Sure, there will be exceptionally cold days, but the sun will start to come out more often, too, and for longer, as well. That’s the kind of thing that can…
Here at the Vessel Documentation Center, we’re always glad to talk to fellow vessel owners. Perhaps the most common, most asked question that we receive is “do I have to register my vessel?” If you’ve never owned a boat before, the registrations, licenses, and everything that you have to get become confusing at best. We…
For many vessels, it’s a legal necessity to get onto the Coast Guard boat registration database. However, in the past, it has been difficult. Before the internet, vessel owners had to fill everything out by hand, then mail it in and hope for the best. Once online access was granted, vessel owners still found themselves…
Every journey has a beginning. When you go out on your vessel, you could say the trip begins when you make that walk down the pier, when you get on the boat, or when you cast off from the dock itself. When it comes to vessel documentation, for many vessel owners, the journey begins with…
Sometimes, being out on the water when the waves are high is good. That’s true if you’re surfing or if you’re out with friends and family while dragging some kind of fun inflatable behind your boat. However, often rough seas are just that: rough. They can make it difficult to hold your course, even presenting…
Do you have a small boat that you think might qualify you for a regulation waver? If you are looking for a MARAD waiver, then it is important that you understand exactly what this is, and how it can help you to manage your application forms. Also known as the Maritime Administration of the US,…
Are you becoming a boat owner for the first time? If you are, this can be an exciting moment for you. When you see that boat in the marina for the initial time, and you know it belongs to you, you will be anxious to get out on the water and start enjoying your investment….
Have you found a great maritime business opportunity and want the right kind of vessel documentation to take advantage of it? Are you in the middle of your initial vessel USCG application and aren’t sure exactly which endorsement to choose? So much of the language that’s associated with vessel documentation is jargon, the kinds of…