National Vessel Documentation Center Overview
What you should know about the National Vessel Documentation Center.
The National Vessel Documentation Center is a centralized government facility that is responsible for administering all aspects of vessel documentation. This encompasses both recreational and commercial vessels. It is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia and is managed by United States Coast Guard which is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Mission and Purposes
The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is charged with the enhancement and protection of maritime commerce. Its mission is implemented through the enforcement of vessel documentation regulations and by maintaining a register of documented vessels. In addition to the handling of applications, the NVDC processes transactional recordings related to ownership and encumbrances. These encompass transfers of ownership, preferred mortgages, lien claims and various supporting instruments. It also provides support for the general public with respect to records access and informational resources. The documentation center processes applications and issues certificates for both recreational and commercial vessels on a nationwide basis and is responsible for the maintenance of such records.
Regulatory Enforcement
Vessel documentation regulations are promulgated by congress as prescribed through the United States Code (USC). These are further interpreted and codified through the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). As a matter of enforcement, the NVDC has further developed their own set of operational rules based on the meaning of these statutes. A layman's understanding of these underlying codes is accordingly helpful when it comes to NVDC requirements.
Public Access
The NVDC facility is located in a rural area near Martinsburg, West Virginia. Although open for public visitation, most transactions are conducted online, by telephone, email or regular mail. Facsimile accommodations are no longer available. Information on how to contact the NVDC and instructions for submitting forms and documents can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Online Resources
The National Vessel Documentation Center offers a number of online information and services
for those interested in documenting a recreational or commercial vessel.
This include the necessary forms, applications and instructions for
obtaining a certificate of documentation along with various ownership,
mortgage, an lien recordings. Links to the website and various resources be found in the
Referrals for this page.
Fee Schedule - A fee table is available
from the NVDC Website. This details virtually all charges for applications,
requests and recordings.
Forms and Instructions - The NVDC website
provides certain forms, examples and instructions for basic applications,
requests and recordings. These are supplemented by owner provided forms such
as mortgages, supplements, and other recordable instruments. Blanks and
examples for most of these can be found in the resources section of our
website.
Documentation FAQs - A limited number of answers to frequently asked
questions can be found on the NVDC website. Our website also has an
expansive listing of vessel documentation FAQs which can be found in the
Resources index page.
Online Ordering Services - The following
services can be conveniently ordered online from the NVDCs eStorefront which
facilitates payment by credit card. Usage of this requires the establishment
of an online login account.
----- Documentation Renewals - 1 to 5 year certificate of documentation
renewals are now available online.
----- Initial or Re-documentation -
Online services for vessel documentation applications are not yet available,
but coming soon.
----- Abstract of Title or Certified COD - An abstract
of title for any vessel ever documented, whether current or archived may be
ordered online. A certified copy of most recently issued certificate of
documentation (COD) can also be ordered online.
----- Change of Address -
A change of address can now be implemented directly online.
-----
Mortgage and Related Instruments - Preferred mortgages and supplemental
items can be filed online. Supplements may include amendments, assignments,
assumptions, and subordinations.
----- Notice of Claim of
Lien - A notice of claim of lien can now be filed online.
-----
Satisfaction of Mortgage or Release of Lien - Instruments to offset or
negate mortgage or lien claim recordings can be implemented online.
----- Bill of Sale and Related Instruments
- Bills of sale and related instruments such as deeds of gift and transfers
of interest may now be filed online.
----- Deletion Request Letter -
Online service is now available for deletion or removal from documentation
requests.
----- Certificate of Ownership - Certificates of ownership for
a single or multiple vessels are now available online.
Work Packet
Inquiry - The NVDC provides an online portal on its website where
filing confirmations can be obtained in real time.
Backlog Status -
The NVDC publishes frequent notifications on its website showing the
processing backlog dates for various types of filings.
Records Access
Online Searches - There is no online portal on the NVDC
website for record search lookups. Although there are some other government
and industry websites that do offer vessel documentation lookups, these are
limited to searches by a hull number, official number or vessel name only.
This type of search also available free of charge from our website. The
industry's only source of multiple criteria searches can be found in our BoatScope
subscription database.
Ordering Records -Vessel abstracts of
title, certificates of ownership, and copies of
recorded instruments must be ordered directly from the vessel documentation center.
Customer Support
The documentation center employs a staff of well trained documentation officers that are available for customer support. They can be reached by telephone and are responsive to email correspondence. General inquiries are addressed, but the scope of their assistance is more typically limited to applicants and those cases which are currently in progress. In any event, the documentation center will not offer guidance on the legal or technical ramifications of vessel ownership methods and operational requirements.
Conclusion
Documenting a vessel yourself has never been so easy given the documentation center's newly enhanced online services. These in conjunction with a wealth of documentation resources available from our website have eliminated the need for spending hundreds of additional dollars on third party professionals.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections