Vessel Certificate of Documentation Renewal
How to easily renew a vessel certificate of documentation with instructions.
A vessel certificate of documentation must be renewed periodically on a 1 to 5 year optional basis. This must be implemented in a timely manner in order to avoid additional fees or perhaps the need for re-documentation. The renewal process is administered by the National Vessel Documentation Center and can be easily performed online or by mail.
Notifications
The Coast Guard will notify vessel owners by mail prior to a
documentation's expiration date. This is sent by regular mail to the
managing owner's address as shown on their records and will include a set of
easy to follow instructions. Owners should, however, mark their calendars
for such event as failure to receive the notice for whatever reason may
result in a penalty or the need for re-documentation.
CAUTION - Vessel documentation renewals have become a target of scam
operators looking to collect unnecessary fees for providing a service that
can be easily performed yourself. You may receive a simulated notification
that is made to look official with a solicitation for amounts much greater
than those imposed on an actual filing. There are also a number of scam
vessel documentation service websites with official looking logos and terms
that have the deceptive appearance of an actual government site. Additional
information about deceptive or scam documentation websites can be found in
the References for this page.
Renewal Methods
Online Renewal - The National Vessel Documentation
Center (NVDC) has recently implemented an eStorefront on its website where
you can renew a certificate of documentation in a matter of minutes. Payment
can be made by credit card without the need for submitting any additional
paperwork.
Renewal by Email - You can submit a renewal application
form by email to the NVDC an they will respond with an acknowledgement of
receipt. You will need to send the application form and a credit card
payment form in Adobe PDF formats. Both are available from the Referrals for
this page.
Renewal by Mail - Vessel documentation renewals
can be fulfilled by mailing a CG-1280 Vessel Documentation Renewal form
directly to the NVDC. It will be provided with your renewal notification and
can also be found in the Referrals for this page.
Renewal Fees
The NVDC provides a schedule of vessel documentation renewal
fees based you choice of terms. This can be found in the Referrals for this
page. Be sure to check these against any deceptive looking renewal
notifications.
Late Fees - There is a late fee involved when
renewing an expired documentation within 30 days of its expiration.
Reinstatement - When renewing a documentation that has expired beyond 30
days, you will need apply for a re-documentation along with payment of the
respective fees.
Payment Options - Renewal fees may be paid by
check, money order or through a credit card authorization which is available
from the Referrals for this page.
Conclusion
Renewing a vessel certificate of documentation is very straightforward and easy to implement. Just be sure to do this before the expiration date in order to avoid additional fees. You may contact the National Vessel Documentation Center direct for additional information or concerns. A link to their website can be found in the Referrals for this page.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections