On December 4th, 2018, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 was signed into law. It deals with long-standing issues such as the regulation of discharges incidental to normal vessel operation (e.g., grey water and ballast water discharges) and clarifies the process for qualifying a vessel as U.S. built.
One of its provisions enables those who hold recreational vessel Certificates of Documentation (CODs) to select a multi-year renewal (one to five years) between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021.
For those new to vessel ownership, the Coast Guard is responsible for the documentation of both commercial and recreational vessels. This documentation provides evidence of the boat’s nationality for international travel purposes, enables uninterrupted trade between states, and authorizes vessels for some restricted trades, such as the fisheries and coastwise trade. Every year, the National Vessel Documentation Center processes over 200,000 applications for Certificates of Documentation.
Under the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, recreational vessel owners who want to renew their COD for more than one year can do so by paying extra fees totaling $26 per additional year requested and making the appropriate annotation on the credit card form or memo line of their check. As of January 1, 2022, five-year renewals will automatically apply to recreational vessels, reducing the volume of administrative paperwork involved and allowing boat owners to go longer without having to worry about renewing.
Contact a Marine Documentation Services Provider
If you own a recreational vessel, the Marine Documentation Division at Howard S. Reeder can take the guesswork out of the Certificate of Documentation renewal process. Our domestic registration services ensure that your boat is documented in accordance with state and federal regulations so that you can enjoy ownership without worrying about compliance issues. For more information please contact us today.
- Understanding the Cruising License Renewal Process - May 20, 2020
- What You Need in Order to File Entry on a Vessel - December 20, 2019
- 3 Steps to Document Your Vessel with the Coast Guard - October 20, 2019
