• What is Federal Documentation and What is the Purpose?
• What Vessels may be documented?
• What vessels require documentation?
• How do I know if my vessel measures five net tons?
• What vessels are exempt?
• What Type of Endorsement Should I Apply for?
• How is my Vessel Identified?
• How Do I Mark and Identify My Vessel?
• Why does the Coast Guard require designation of a managing owner?
• What is a preferred mortgage?
• If I Federally Document do I have to Register for State Numbers?

Vessel documentation is a national form of registration with the United States Coast Guard. It is one of the oldest functions of Government, dating back to the 11th Act of the First Congress. Documentation provides conclusive evidence of 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. Preferred Mortgages on documented vessels have been available since 1920 for vessel financing.     top

A vessel must measure at least five net tons and must be wholly owned by a citizen of the United States. There are certain exceptions that apply. Usually a vessel 25' in length can qualify for documentation. The tonnage is determined by volume of the vessel, not by how much the manufacturer says the vessel weights.     top

Vessels that engage in certain trades like coastwise, fishery and registry are required by law to be federally documented. most financial institutions insist on Federal Documentation for the vessels they finance.    top

Tonnage is determined by volume. Most vessels more than 25 feet in length will measure five net tons or more.    top

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. Coastwise and fishery endorsements are for commercial use.    top

Documented vessels do not display their official numbers on the outside of the hull, but are identified by the name and hailing port. There is no rule against duplication of names for documented vessels, so hailing ports are helpful in identifying vessels. This number cannot be altered and in turn acts as a theft deterrent. If the vessel is lost or stolen it will fall under Federal law instead of state or local law for prosecution and retrieval.    top

Official Number Marking:

In accordance with the marking requirements in 46 CFR 67.120 the official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches. high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

Name and Hailing Port:

For Recreational vessels, the name and hailing port both must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. For Commercial vessels, the vessel name must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and hailing port must also be marked on the stern. All markings may be made by the use of any means and materials that result in durable markings. Letters must be at least four inches in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. The "hailing port" must include both a place (city in the United States) and the state. The state may be abbreviated.    top

Some vessels have more than one owner. To make sure that the correct person receives the mail in reference to the vessel, one must be designated as the managing owner.    top

A preferred mortgage is a mortgage which is given status as a maritime lien. As such it enjoys a certain priority in the event of default. In addition, the owner of the vessel is prohibited from making certain changes in documentation including, but not limited to, change of vessel ownership, name, and hailing port without consent of the mortgagee. For this reason many financial institutions require vessels which are eligible for documentation to be documented and to have preferred mortgages recorded against them.    top

No, all documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not numbered) and to display state validation decals showing that they have complied with state requirements.    top

Cruise aboard the Bonny Blue