There are 3 categories of requirements for USCG vessel Documentation
- Managing Owner (Citizenship) Requirements
- Vessel Tonnage (Size) Requirements
- Vessel Marking Requirements
To file your application for US Coast Guard Documentation on your boat, you may proceed to the online webform application below:
https://unitedstatesvessel.us/certificate-of-documentation/
1. Managing Owner (Citizenship) Requirements:
Certificates of Documentation may be issued only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens.
2. Vessel Tonnage (Size) Requirements
Vessels must be at least 5 net tons in order to qualify for US Coast Guard Documentation. Tonnage is a unit of volume, not weight. Most vessels greater than 25ft in length will measure at least 5 net tons.
3. Vessel Marking Requirements
Display of Vessel Name and Hailing Port or Vessel Registration Numbers
Federal law prohibits a displaying State registration decals on a Federally Documented vessel. When a vessel becomes Federally Documented, the State Registration Numbers and Letters must be removed. Validation stickers may be displayed according to the individual State guidelines/regulations.
Exterior marking requirements:
The markings may be made by the use of any means and materials which result in durable markings, must be made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals not less than four inches in height.
NOTE: When dinghies or other personal watercraft are stored on the swim platform or transom causing the vessel’s name and hailing port to be obscured from view, there is no Federal requirement to place the name and hailing port elsewhere.
Vessel Name: The Vessel Name must not exceed 33 characters. (46 CFR § 67.123). ) Must be composed of letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals; (2) May not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; and(3) May not contain nor be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets. (46 CFR § 67.117)
Hailing Port: The hailing port must be a place in the United States included in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 55DC. The hailing port must include the State, territory, or possession in which it is located. (46 CFR § 67.119)
Location of markings:
Commercial vessels: the name of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the port and starboard bow and the stern of the vessel. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel.
Recreational vessels: For vessels documented exclusively for recreation, the name and hailing port must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull.
Official Number marking requirements:
The official number of the vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious. If the official number is on a separate plate, the plate must be fastened in such a manner that its removal would normally cause some scarring of or damage to the surrounding hull area. (46 CFR § 67.121)
