Email: nvdc.filing@unitedstatesvessel.us
Contact: (866) 610-6594

This form may be used by any individual, company, corporation, or other entity who has evidence that they are entitled to an amount owed against a Documented vessel of the United States. This form DOES NOT APPLY to State registered vessels. There is no minimum or maximum amount necessary to record a Notice of Claim of Lien against a Documented vessel. Once accepted by the National Vessel Documentation Center, this instrument will be recorded on the vessel’s Abstract of Title PERMANENTLY, regardless of expiration, discharge or satisfaction. While legal enforcement varies from State to State and in different courts, a recorded Notice of Claim of Lien will be present on the Abstract of Title of the vessel, and may delay and impede the sale or transfer of said vessel.

Documentation Transfers cannot be completed with an outstanding Maritime Lien on the vessel. While this process may not result in an arrest or seizure of the liened vessel, it provides an indelible message on the vessel’s Abstract of Title and to all mortagees of vessels, which may provide enough leverage to force the owner of a vessel to pay and satisfy the lienholder. 

This webform will guide you through the process, will cover the necessary fees and will complete and submit the applicable forms to submit the Notice of Claim of Lien to the National Vessel Documentation Center. NOTE: The application fee of this form includes the Abstract of Title fee ($75), which is required to notify all current mortgagees of vessel the lien, the necessary fees to process the instruments of filing, and notices of confirmation of recording the lien. 

Included will be a NOTICE OF INTENT to file the claim of lien, which will need to be sent via USPS to the vessel owner(s). If the vessel owner has not paid or satisfied the amount for the lien within 15 days, the NOTICE OF CLAIM OF LIEN will need to be sent via USPS to the vessel owner(s) and all interest holders, mortgagees and lienholders of the vessel. Our office will provide the name(s) and address(es) of each interest holder, mortgagee and lienholder of the vessel, so that you may mail these notices. Once the notices are sent via mail, you will be required to obtain a notary acnkowledgement on your NOTICE OF CLAIM OF LIEN. Upon submitting a scanned copy to our office, it will be recorded by the National Vessel Documentation office, and proof of recordation will be given to you via email within 10 weeks. This process cannot move any faster than this timeframe.   

DISCLAIMER: Neither the filing of a Notice of Claim of Lien nor the acceptance by the Coast Guard of such a notice is a guarantee that the claim is valid or enforceable. Maritime and Admiralty Law are complex structures, and it is recommended that you consult with an attorney in your state to ensure enforceability of a Claim of Lien against a Documented vessel of the United States.

46 U.S. Code § 31343

  • A person claiming a lien on a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage under section 31322(d) of this title must record and discharge the lien as provided by the law of the State in which the vessel is titled.
  • If you do not know the Vessel Official Number or the Hull Identification Number, our office will do research to obtain this information, and will contact you for verification.
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    Upload any relevant images, documents, PDFs, etc that support your claim to the lien.
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An instrument assigning or amending a notice of claim of lien must recite information which clearly identifies the notice of claim of lien being assigned or amended. Such information will normally consist of the book and page where the notice of claim is recorded and the date and time of filing. If the submission of the assignment or amendment is contemporaneous with submission of the notice of claim of lien, the information should include the name of each original claimant, the date of the notice of claim, and the amount of the claim and other information to adequately identify the notice of claim of lien being assigned or amended.

A notice of claim of lien is not entitled to filing and recording unless the vessel against which the lien is claimed is covered by a preferred mortgage filed or recorded in accordance with subpart Q of this part or predecessor regulations thereto and which is outstanding at the time the lien is filed and recorded.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING FILING AND RECORDING OF INSTRUMENTS

IMPORTANT LINKS: FOIA | USA.gov | U.S. Department of Homeland Security | DHS Office of Inspector General | WhiteHouse.gov | MHS Notice of Privacy Practices

Unitedstatesvessel.us is a privately owned document preparation service that is not operated by any government agency.