Vessel Owners Can Renew USCG Vessel Documentation Through Our Site
Use this link to renew USCG vessel documentation.
With that, certain vessels can be documented for up to five years in advance.
Vessel owners cannot change their Certificates of Documentation through that link. Additionally, that link cannot be used to reinstate vessel documentation. That link can only be used to renew vessel documentation.
Owning a vessel is a unique privilege that comes with its own set of responsibilities. Among these is ensuring that your United States Coast Guard (USCG) documentation remains current. Failing to keep this documentation updated can lead to unnecessary complications, including fines, operational delays, and even legal ramifications.
However, renewing your USCG Certificate of Documentation (COD) doesn’t have to be a tedious or stressful process. At Vessel Placards, we specialize in simplifying every aspect of vessel documentation renewal, while also offering compliant placards that display your vessel name and number.
Better Understanding the USCG Documentation Renewal Process
The USCG Certificate of Documentation serves as an official registry that establishes your vessel’s nationality, enabling it to engage in specific activities such as international commerce. It also serves as proof of ownership and compliance with federal regulations. This document must be renewed annually to remain valid. Missing the renewal deadline can disrupt your vessel’s operation, but staying ahead of the process is key to avoiding such issues.
Renewing your documentation involves submitting the appropriate forms with accurate and updated information. While this might sound simple in theory, the reality can often be complicated. Errors in your submission, missed deadlines, or confusion over renewal timing can all lead to delays. This is where Vessel Placards comes in. We offer a streamlined, mobile-friendly platform that takes the guesswork out of the process.
How Vessel Placards Simplifies USCG Documentation Renewal
At Vessel Placards, we believe renewing your USCG documentation should be as effortless as ordering a product online. Our user-friendly platform is designed to eliminate frustration, ensuring that you can focus on enjoying your time on the water. Here’s how we help:
Seamless Online Process
When you visit our website, you’ll immediately notice how straightforward the process is. Our “renew” option is prominently displayed, guiding you to a simple online form. This form contains clearly labeled fields, making it easy to input the necessary details. Once you’ve completed the form, your renewal request is submitted for processing. The entire process is intuitive, allowing you to complete your renewal in just a few minutes.
Rush Processing for Time-Sensitive Renewals
Sometimes, waiting is not an option. Whether you’re gearing up for an important voyage or need your documentation updated urgently, our rush processing service ensures your forms are prioritized. By selecting this option, your renewal request is handled ahead of others, reducing turnaround time and minimizing any potential disruptions to your plans.
Timing Your Renewal Correctly
One of the most common mistakes vessel owners make is renewing their documentation too early or too late. While renewing early might seem proactive, it can actually lead to complications. For example, if your documentation expires in August and you renew in May, the renewal date for the following year will shift to May. This change can create unnecessary confusion and expense.
To avoid such issues, we recommend renewing during your assigned renewal month. If your deadline is August 30th, taking care of the renewal in early August ensures you stay compliant without disrupting the natural cycle of your documentation. Vessel Placards’ platform makes it easy to manage these deadlines, sending reminders and offering a straightforward renewal process tailored to your timeline.
Reinstating Expired Documentation
Even the most organized vessel owners can miss a deadline. If your documentation expires, don’t worry. While you cannot renew an expired Certificate of Documentation, our site provides an option for reinstatement. Reinstating your documentation restores its validity, allowing you to continue using your vessel without complications. The reinstatement process is as simple as our renewal service, ensuring you’re back on track quickly.
Avoiding Common Errors with Pro Assistance
Submitting documentation forms is not always as simple as it seems. Even minor errors can result in delays, as incorrect forms are typically returned for correction. At Vessel Placards, we’ve assembled a team of experienced document processors who carefully review each submission. These professionals ensure your forms are accurate and complete, minimizing the risk of delays. Should any issues arise, our team will contact you promptly to address them, ensuring your renewal process remains as smooth as possible.
Planning Ahead with Multi-Year Renewals
For vessel owners who want to simplify their long-term planning, we offer the option to renew documentation for up to five years in advance for certain vessels. This feature allows you to eliminate the annual renewal hassle, giving you peace of mind and more time to focus on enjoying your vessel. With one easy step, you can secure your documentation for years to come, ensuring compliance without the need for constant reminders.
Mobile-Friendly Solutions for Your Busy Lifestyle
We understand that vessel owners lead busy lives. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or other responsibilities, finding time to handle documentation tasks can be challenging. That’s why our platform is fully optimized for mobile use. Whether you’re at the marina, on your vessel, or relaxing at home, you can complete your renewal or reinstatement forms from any device with internet access. This flexibility ensures you’re never tied down to a specific location or schedule.
Protecting Your Information with Advanced Security
Security is a top priority at Vessel Placards. We employ advanced encryption technology to safeguard your sensitive information during every step of the renewal process. This commitment to security means you can trust us to handle your documentation with the utmost care and professionalism.
Why Choose Vessel Placards?
Renewing your USCG documentation doesn’t have to be a complicated or stressful experience. Our site combines convenience, efficiency, and compliance to deliver a superior solution for vessel owners. From rush processing and multi-year renewals to reinstatement services and custom placards, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our dedicated team ensures your forms are accurate and complete, reducing the risk of delays and ensuring your time on the water is uninterrupted.
At Vessel Placards, we’re committed to making your life easier. By choosing our platform, you’re not just renewing a document—you’re gaining a partner in your vessel ownership journey. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying your time on the water.
Vessel Renewal Laws That May Pertain to Your Situation
The following laws may fit you and your vessel situation. If you have further questions, please reach out.
- 67.317 Requirement to renew endorsements on the Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and except for recreational endorsements, which can be renewed for a period of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years, the owner of a documented vessel must annually renew each endorsement upon the current Certificate of Documentation for that vessel in accordance with § 67.163.
(b) The requirement of paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to Certificates of Documentation placed on deposit in accordance with § 67.165.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021; USCG-2023-0305, 88 FR 77902, Nov. 14, 2023]
- 67.319 Requirement to report change in vessel status and surrender Certificate of Documentation.
(a) The owner of a vessel must notify the Coast Guard of each change in the information on which the issuance of the Certificate of Documentation for the vessel is based that occurs before the expiration of the certificate under this subsection, by no later than 30 days after such change.
(b) The Certificate of Documentation for a vessel is terminated upon the expiration of the 30-day period if the owner has not notified the Coast Guard of such change before the end of the period.
[USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
- 67.321 Requirement to report change of address of managing owner.
Upon the change of address of the managing owner of a documented vessel, the managing owner shall report the change of address to the National Vessel Documentation Center within 10 days of its occurrence.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49847, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
- 67.323 Operation without documentation.
No vessel which is required by § 67.7 to be documented may engage in unlimited coastwise trade or the fisheries without being documented in accordance with the requirements of this part.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
§ 67.325 Violation of endorsement.
A vessel may not be employed in any trade other than a trade endorsed upon the Certificate of Documentation issued for that vessel. A vessel documented exclusively for recreation may not be used for purposes other than pleasure.
(Most vessel owners would be surprised at how often this happens.)
- 67.327 Operation under Certificate of Documentation with invalid endorsement.
Except for vessels identified in § 67.9, no vessel may be operated under a Certificate of Documentation with endorsements which have become invalid under subpart L of this part.
- 67.329 Unauthorized name change.
The owner of a documented vessel may not change or allow the change of the name of that vessel without exchanging the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation in accordance with subpart K of this part. The new name of the vessel must be marked on the vessel upon receipt of the new Certificate of Documentation.
- 67.331 Improper markings.
The owner of a documented vessel shall not permit the operation of that vessel unless it is marked in accordance with subpart I of this part.
Subpart V—Exception From Fishery Endorsement Requirements Due to Conflict With International Agreements
Source:USCG-1999-6095, 65 FR 76576, Dec. 7, 2000, unless otherwise noted.
- 67.350 Conflicts with international agreements.
(a) If you are an owner or mortgagee of a fishing vessel less than 100 feet in length and believe that there is a conflict between 46 CFR part 67 and any international treaty or agreement to which the United States is a party on October 1, 2001, and to which the United States is currently a party, you may petition the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) for a ruling that all or sections of part 67 do not apply to you with respect to a particular vessel, provided that you had an ownership interest in the vessel or a mortgage on the vessel on October 1, 2001. You may file your petition with the NVDC before October 1, 2001, with respect to international treaties or agreements in effect at the time of your petition which are not scheduled to expire before October 1, 2001.
(b) If you are filing a petition for exemption with the NVDC for reasons stated in paragraph (a) of this section, your petition must include:
(1) Evidence of the ownership structure of the vessel petitioning for an exemption as of October 1, 2001, and any subsequent changes to the ownership structure of the vessel;
(i) If you are filing your petition before October 1, 2001, you may substitute evidence of the ownership structure as it exists on the date you file your petition;
(2) A copy of the provisions of the international agreement or treaty that you believe is in conflict with this part;
(3) A detailed description of how the provisions of the international agreement or treaty conflict with this part;
(4) For all petitions filed before October 1, 2001, a certification that the owner intends to transfer no ownership interest in the vessel to a non-U.S. citizen for the following year.
(5) For all petitions filed after October 1, 2001, a certification that no ownership interest was transferred to a non-U.S. citizen after September 30, 2001.
(c) You must file a separate petition for each vessel requiring an exemption unless the NVDC authorizes consolidated filing. Petitions should include two copies of all required materials and should be sent to the following address: National Vessel Documentation Center, 792 TJ Jackson Drive, Falling Water, West Virginia, 25419.
(d) Upon receipt of a complete petition, the NVDC will review the petition to determine whether the effective international treaty or agreement and the requirements of this part are in conflict. If the NVDC determines that this part conflicts with the effective international treaty or agreement, then the NVDC will inform you of the guidelines and requirements you must meet and maintain to qualify for a fisheries endorsement.
(e) If the vessel is determined through the petition process to be exempt from all or sections of the requirements of this part, then you must annually, from the date of exemption, submit the following evidence of its ownership structure to the NVDC:
(1) The vessel’s current ownership structure;
(2) The identity of all non-citizen owners and the percentages of their ownership interest in the vessel;
(3) Any changes in the ownership structure that have occurred since you last submitted evidence of the vessel’s ownership structure to the NVDC; and
(4) A statement ensuring that no interest in the vessel was transferred to a non-citizen during the previous year.
Answering More Questions Than Just “How Do I Renew My USCG Vessel Documentation?”
Yes, we can help with your vessel documentation. However, we can assist with far more than that, too. Here at Vessel Placards, once you’ve renewed or documented your vessel, we offer placards that meet all legal requirements. To see how we can help, click here.