The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) Mission Statement: The National Vessel Documentation Center facilitates maritime commerce and the availability of financing while protecting economic privileges of United States citizens through the enforcement of regulations, and provides a register of vessels available in time of war or emergency to defend and protect the United States of America.
The primary functions of the NVDC are to manage U.S. vessel documentation and, upon request, provide third parties, such
as lenders, with notice of any existing mortgages and liens on federally documented vessels.
Vessel Documentation (for US Flag Vessels). The National Vessel Documentation Center facilitates maritime commerce and the availability of financing while protecting economic privileges of United States citizens through the enforcement of regulations, and provides a register of vessels available in time of war or emergency to defend and protect the United States of America.
The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is located in Falling Waters, Virginia. All forms and services accept direct, online payments via this website. Services include:
Initial Documentation (CG-1258)
Documentation Transfers (CG-1258)
Documentation Renewals (Including Multi-Year Renewals) (CG-1280)
Documentation Reinstatements (CG-1258)
Changes in Vessel Names or Hailing Ports (CG-1258)
Changes in Vessel Endorsements (CG-1258)
Deletion from USCG Documentation
Certified Copies of Certificates of Documentation
Legal Name Changes of Managing Owner(s)
The Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center Processed Mostly Recreational Certificates of Documentation from FY 2015-2019
In managing U.S. vessel documentation, the NVDC processes and issues certificates of documentation for commercial vessels and recreational vessels of 5 or more net tons, provides abstracts of title, and issues letters of determination.
Certificates of Documentation. The NVDC categorizes applications for certificates as initial, renewal, or reissue, among other categories.
The NVDC processes applications for an initial certificate the first time a vessel owner documents a vessel, and applications for a renewal certificate when a vessel owner renews a certificate. The NVDC processes applications for a reissue certificate when a vessel’s ownership changes or a vessel owner changes the vessel’s hailing port. The NVDC endorses certificates for vessel owners to engage in certain activities, such as commercial, recreational, and the fisheries. Notably, commercial vessel owners must renew their vessels annually, whereas recreational certificates are optional and vessel owners may renew their vessels every 1 to 5 years.