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Should I document my vessel with the U.S. Coast Guard?

By Amanda Ross on December 15, 2020
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As a maritime lawyer, I am frequently asked by private and commercial owners whether they need to register their vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard. In short, it depends.

Vessel documentation is a national form of registration that has existed for many years dating back to the 11th Act of the First Congress. Vessel documentation is a national form of registration available for vessels that measure at least five net tons and are wholly owned by a U.S. citizen or citizens. Vessel documentation provides evidence of nationality for your vessel and is used mainly for international purposes. When you document your boat with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), you receive a Certificate of Documentation (COD) which is issued by the Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

International waters

Vessel documentation is recommended if you plan to travel overseas with your vessel. Customs officials universally recognize a USCG COD as proof of ownership and authentication of the boat’s origin. If you travel to foreign waters, your COD immediately provides you with the protection and the status that comes from the U.S. Government. This also facilitates a smooth entry and clearance in foreign ports.

Is registration with the US Coast Guard ever mandatory?

USCG documentation is mandatory for all commercial vessels five net tons and over, and is voluntary for recreational vessels five net tons and over. If financing a portion of the purchase, an owner of a recreational vessel could be required by a lender to document the vessel to secure the lender’s lien at the federal level.

Documenting your vessel with the U.S. Coast Guard does not exempt you from state registration in Florida or from state taxes, although it does supersede any state titling.

If you are undecided about whether you should register your vessel in the State of Florida or proceed with USCG vessel documentation, or need assistance with the documentation process you may contact me at amanda.ross@henlaw.com or by phone at 239-344-1249.

Photo of Amanda Ross Amanda Ross

Amanda focuses her litigation practice in the areas of transportation (automobile, marine, trucking liability), premises liability, negligent security, wrongful death, construction litigation insurance coverage defense and product liability. Prior to joining Henderson Franklin, Amanda worked in the Miami area and handled maritime and…

Amanda focuses her litigation practice in the areas of transportation (automobile, marine, trucking liability), premises liability, negligent security, wrongful death, construction litigation insurance coverage defense and product liability. Prior to joining Henderson Franklin, Amanda worked in the Miami area and handled maritime and admiralty defense, as well as vessel and yacht purchase and sale transactions. Amanda is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Amanda has received much recognition over her legal career, including being named by Florida Trend Legal Elite as a “Best Up and Coming” attorney (2008), by Super Lawyers as a “Florida Rising Star” (2011, 2014-2017), and by the South Florida Legal Guide as a “Top Up & Comer” (2014-2017).

Amanda is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the United States District Court of Puerto Rico, pro hac vice.

During college, Amanda was an active member of Phi Alpha Delta, pre law fraternity, and was a member of the Varsity Crew. She was awarded the Lynch Foreign Language Award and studied at the Universidad Cumplutense de Madrid.  Amanda went on to law school at the University of Miami School of Law. During law school, she worked with the University of Miami Athletic Department as well as the Miami Dolphins Legal Department.

Amanda is a volunteer for the Teen Court for Lee County and is an active member of the University of Miami Hurricane Club and Stetson University Alumni Board.

Read more about Amanda RossEmail
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  • Posted in:
    Intellectual Property
  • Blog:
    Southwest Florida Business and IP Blog
  • Organization:
    Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
  • Article: View Original Source

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