A Complete Guide to USCG Documentation for Commercial Vessels

Documenting a commercial vessel with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is necessary for a variety of business-related reasons. One of the main reasons is that you need a federal registration for your vessel in order to freely sail the US sea territory as well as to increase your chances of obtaining financing. Commercial fishermen of all backgrounds can get assistance at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center. We have everything you need for your USCG documentation at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center.

When is Documentation from the USCG Necessary for a Commercial Vessel?

Documentation from the Coast Guard is not required for the vast majority of recreational vessels. On the other hand, having one is commonly required for commercial vessels. If your boat has a net tonnage of more than five tons and you are boating in federal waters, you are required by law to get a Certificate of Documentation (COD) from the Coast Guard.

We understand that you probably wanted to go into commercial or industrial fishing because you enjoy spending time in nature. There are some people who just aren’t cut out for working in an office from 9 to 5. Even though working as a fisherman gets you out of the office and into the fresh air, away from the confines of PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets, there is still paperwork to be done. If you want to run legitimate and successful fishing business, you need to get the proper permits in order to fish in the areas you want to.

To accomplish this, you will need to fill out an application for certification, which is referred to as Form CG-1258. In order for you to finish filling out this document, you will need to provide a variety of information about yourself as well as your boat. You will also be required to include evidence that you are the owner of your vessel. This can take the form of an official bill of sale, as well as the vehicle’s title or registration with the state. If your boat has never been documented before, you will also need a Form CG-5397, which is an Application for Simplified Measurement.

Coast Guard Documentation For Beginners?

Documentation from the United States Coast Guard, to put it in the simplest terms possible, demonstrates that a vessel is registered at the federal level. This form, which is used as evidence of nationality, is actually one of the oldest active functions of the government of the United States.

This method of registering commercial vessels is frequently considered the most desirable option for a number of different reasons. To begin with, if you have a USCG Certificate of Documentation, it makes clearing customs in foreign ports a lot less difficult. There is also the idea of title assurance, which refers to the fact that a COD creates a transparent ownership hierarchy for a vessel. The only information that needs to be displayed on the outside of your boat is its name and its hailing port if you have a COD. This makes obtaining a COD not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing.

U.S. Coast Guard Authorization for Commercial Fishing

If your fishing vessel has a volume of at least five net tons and you intend to fish commercially in U.S. territorial waters or the exclusive economic zone, you must have paperwork from the U.S. Coast Guard. You won’t merely “want to” have this; you’ll require it. It’s conveniently located on our front page for your convenience.

Once it has been issued to you, your certificate of delivery will remain valid for a period of five years. You will be notified by the Coast Guard that your registration is getting close to its expiration date, and the notice will include instructions on how to complete a renewal of your registration.

Almost every one of our customers needs these documents in order to commence the commercial fishing activities they’ve expressed an interest in. However, this is usually not the only form on our site that a customer will need. Our site has everything you need to fish legally in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of New England, in Alaska, American Samoa, off the coast of California, or anywhere else in the United States.

You Can Get All of Your Documentation and Permits 

If the idea of obtaining USCG documentation appeals to you as the owner of a vessel, you can obtain this documentation in a few different ways. You have the option of doing the process directly with the US Coast Guard by downloading the relevant forms from their website, then manually filling them out and sending them back through the mail. You could also work with us here at the Commercial Fishing Permits Center if you find that you have less time on your hands.

We provide user-friendly web forms that can be used to process your Coast Guard documentation in an online setting. In addition, we have a large number of applications for commercial and industrial fishing permits for each of the principal regions in the United States. Get in touch with us right away for further information.