Specifications

6 7

TheownerofavesselmustnotifytheagencythatissuedtheCertificate
ofNumberwithin15daysif:
• Thevesselistransferred,destroyed,abandoned,lost,stolen,
orrecovered
• TheCertificateofNumberislost,destroyed,ortheowner’s
addresschanges
IftheCertificateofNumberbecomesinvalidforanyreason,itmustbe
surrenderedtotheissuingauthoritywithin15days

TheUSCoastGuardCertificateofDocumentationisanationalform
ofregistrationdatingbacktothe11
th
ActoftheFirstCongressIt
servesasevidenceofavessel’snationalityforinternationalpurposes,
providesforunhinderedcommercebetweenthestates,andadmits
vesselstocertainrestrictedtrades,suchascoastwisetradeandthe
fisheriesSince1920,vesselfinancinghasbeenenhancedthroughthe
availabilityofpreferredmortgagesondocumentedvessels
Recreationalvesselsareeligibletobedocumentediftheyarewholly
ownedbyacitizenorcitizensoftheUnitedStatesandmeasureatleast
fivenettonsNettonnageisameasureofavessel’svolumeMost
vesselsmorethan25feetinlengthwillmeasurefivenettonsormore
Adocumentedvesselisnotexemptfrom:
• Applicablestateorfederaltaxes
• Compliancewithstateorfederalequipmentcarriage
requirements
Adocumentedvesselmayalsoberequiredtopayaregistrationfee
anddisplayavalidationstickerfromthestateofprincipaluse
Boatersshouldcheckwiththeirstateboatingagency
Tobeincompliancewithfederaldocumentationrequirements,a
CertificateofDocumentationmustbe:
• Theoriginaldocument(photocopynotacceptable)
• Onboardthevessel
• Current(notexpired)
• SignedbytheDirectoroftheNationalVesselDocumentation
Center


Adocumentedrecreationalvesselhulldisplaymust:
• Havethenameandhailingportofthevesseltogetherinone
placeonthehull(usuallyonthestern)
• Beinlettersnotlessthan4inchesinheight
• Beclearlyreadable
M
I
S
T
E
R
J
O
H
N
MISTER JOHN
FRANKLIN, TN
MISTER JOHN
FRANKLIN, TN
4"
4"
Letters not less than 4 inches high