There are three main reasons to document your vessel: if you plan to use it in international waters, if you prefer not to display state registration numbers for aesthetic reasons, or if your lender requires documentation for financing.

Banks prefer USCG Documentation because it allows for a Preferred Ships Mortgage to be recorded and provides a clear, federally recognized title.

Documented vessels must display their name and hailing port together on a visible part of the hull. Names can include letters or numbers (up to 33 characters) but cannot mimic distress signals or include offensive or discriminatory language. Hailing ports can be any U.S. city and state, regardless of the vessel’s physical location.

Processing times can vary depending on the workload and closures at the National Vessel Documentation Center, but currently, applications typically take 2–4 months to process. If you plan to travel outside U.S. waters, expedited handling options may be available, though certain exclusions apply.

Several factors influence the cost of Coast Guard documentation, with fees starting at $699. As an approved documentation provider for most lenders, we manage every aspect of the documentation process for all types of ownership—including individuals, corporations, LLCs, and trusts. Our services include lien searches, bills of sale, deletions, and more. To request a detailed quote – contact our Documentation and Title Specialist, Katherine directly: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.