The mailing address of the National Vessel Documentation Center in Falling Waters, WV is as follows:
USCG/National Vessel Documentation Center
792 T J Jackson Drive
Falling Waters, WV 25419
If you intend to file an application for US Coast Guard vessel Documentation online, you may follow the instructions set forth below:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VESSEL
If you have recently purchased a vesselĀ and it already has an Official Documentation Number,Ā please use the form forĀ Transfer/Exchange of DocumentationĀ via the link below and be sure to upload the appropriate Bill of Sale and/or State Title:Ā
https://unitedstatesvessel.us/transfer-exchange/
If you are unsure if your vessel has ever been Documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, please send the Administrator an email requesting verification to: administrator@unitedstatesvessel.us. Please include the vessel name and Hull Identification number in your message.
If your vesselĀ has never been Documented, you may apply online forĀ Initial DocumentationĀ via the link below:
https://unitedstatesvessel.us/initial-documentation/
Even though it is up to the owner to ensure the Certificate does not pass expiration, the Coast Guard will send a Notice of Renewal to the managing owner approximately 45 days prior to expiration. See the instruction letter Renewal of Certificate of Documentation elsewhere at this site regarding renewal procedures.
A Certificate of Documentation may be endorsed for fishery, coastwise, registry, or recreation. Any Documented vessel may be used for recreational purposes, regardless of its endorsement, but a vessel Documented with a recreational endorsement only may not be used for any other purpose. Registry endorsements are generally used for foreign trade.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADDING A COMMERCIAL ENDORSEMENT TO YOUR CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION
If you wish to add a commercial endorsement, such as aĀ fishery, coastwise or registry endorsement, you may complete the application online via the link below:
https://unitedstatesvessel.us/change-endorsement-trade-indicator/
