There is a series of numbers found in one or two places on the hull of each boat manufactured in the United States or imported into the United States after the date of November 1, 1972. These numbers are called the Hull Identification Numbers (HIN), which is like a boat VIN. You should see them on the outside of the boat, about one quarter of an inch or larger, on the starboard side of the transom. The numbers must be displayed in this location, positioned within two inches of the gunwale,...

Vessel certificate of documentation is the unique identifier that the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) assigns to each vessel that meets the appropriate requirements. Vessel documentation is essentially a national registry of vessels that serves numerous important purposes, much like Social Security numbers serve for people.Background Information on Vessel RegistrationGiven our country’s initial heavy reliance on marine transportation, vessel registration was one...

To obtain Coast Guard approval, vessel documentation will meet the following requirements: Ensure you meet the requirements for vessel documentation, per 46 CFR Part 67. Collect all the requested paperwork. Pay the application fee. Submit an application to the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).How to Get Approved by the Coast Guard for Vessel DocumentationYou’ll need to make sure you meet the general requirements for obtaining vessel documentation. In order to be eligible for...

United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessel documentation is a national form of registration for vessels five net tons or more. A documented vessel is one registered by the federal government through the Coast Guard, rather than titled and numbered through the state.Documented vessels will still need to be on compliance with state rules, so vessel owners will need to check with their state agency for specifics.Obtaining Vessel DocumentationThe requirements for obtaining vessel documentation are as...