Commercial United States Coast Guard Documentation Forms

Managing a commercial fishing business is not always easy. You may end up feeling bogged down with paperwork on land instead of getting to spend time out on the water doing what you love. After all, as a business owner, you are tasked with a lot of responsibilities. You have a crew to look after and a payroll to manage. You also need to ensure that your equipment is in safe, working order. There is also routine maintenance on your vessel that will need to be completed from time to time. In addition to all of that, you also need to stay current with your United States Coast Guard documentation matters.

If you have spent any amount of time in entrepreneurial pursuits, you likely are no stranger to paperwork. In this specific career path, you are probably well acquainted with the process of obtaining commercial fishing permits. While these are instrumental to possess on an individual level, you will also need to document your boat with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in certain instances. 

Understanding the Different Types of United States Coast Guard Documentation

So, how do you determine whether or not your vessel will need to be documented with the Coast Guard? Ultimately, this will come down to the size of your boat, as well as where you plan to do your fishing. Any vessel that has a net weight of more than five tons will need to complete an application for documentation if it is engaging in commercial activity in a designated Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). A rule of thumb to remember here is that if you are accessing federal fisheries, it is probably wise to take a proactive approach in registering your vessel with the Coast Guard.

You can get your Certificate of Documentation by completing a Form CG-1258. This, along with proof of ownership for your vessel, will allow you to obtain a registration that will be good for a period of five years. 45 days ahead of your COD’s expiration, you will be sent a notice and given an opportunity to submit a renewal.

There are, of course, other Coast Guard documents that you may need. Perhaps you have moved, and need to submit a change of address? There is a form specifically for that. There are also avenues to acquire replacement documents in the event that you misplace yours. You can also change your hailing port or even remove your vessel from the United States Coast Guard’s registry. 

Commercial Fishing Permits and More

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we make it easy to process your United States Coast Guard document needs through our one-stop, convenient website. You can simply click on the “USCG Documentation” tab in our navigation menu and you will be brought to a page that neatly lays out our offerings. We also have fishing permits for every major region in the United States. To learn more, contact us today by email or phone, or visit our FAQs page.