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NOTICE OF CHANGE TO SERVICES BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025

In alignment with the National Vessel Documentation Center’s (NVDC’s) continuous process improvement efforts, as of October 1, 2025, NVDC’s application and submission process will be transitioned to an all-electronic request system.*

Customers not already utilizing NVDC’s secure web-based system, eStorefront (linked here) or through the website at: National Vessel Documentation Center / Order Products Online / NVDC ESTOREFRONT are encouraged to do so at the next available opportunity.

PDF FILING: As of October 1, 2025, .pdf filing will no longer be available.

RENEWAL NOTIFICATIONS BY PAPER: NVDC will no longer be mailing CG-1280 Renewal Applications by mail to single-vessel owners. The CG-1280 application will be replaced with a courtesy notice directing customers to eStorefront.

Fleet vessel owners will continue to receive notices, in order to utilize the form-generated sequence number required to renew fleets on eStorefront, until further notice.

PAYMENTS: In accordance with Section 3(c) of the President’s “Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account” Executive Order signed on March 25, 2025, NVDC will no longer accept checks, cash, or money orders, or process credit cards* via form CG-7042 Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, as of October, 1, 2025. Credit card and ACH payment methods are accepted on eStorefront.

Please contact the NVDC if you do not have access to banking services or electronic payment systems.

 

Sincerely,

/C. G. Washburn/
Christina G. Washburn
 
Director, National Vessel Documentation Center
 

 

*Requests for specialized services (Determination Requests, Lease Financing, Charters, Owners’ Certifications, Bowaters and Oil Spill) are currently unavailable via eStorefront, and will need to be submitted to NVDC via e-mail, at: NVDC.W.WEBMASTER@USCG.MIL, and include a completed CG-7042 Authorization for Credit Card Transactions form, for submissions requiring payment.

 

NEWS:

  • Beginning June 1, 2025, services offered directly through the pay.gov site will no longer be available.  Customers will be re-directed to NVDC’s website and eStorefront.  Customers new to the eStorefront product will need to create an account using Login.gov.  For more information, see Expanded Online Ordering, below.

  • The NVDC is aware there are commercial entities that offer to manage the certification/renewal process on behalf of vessel owners for a fee.  The Coast Guard does not endorse any of these companies, and the companies do not operate on behalf of the Coast Guard in any way. Any fees charged or agreements offered by such companies are in no way associated with the NVDC certification process.  In addition, these companies are not authorized to issue any form of documentation, including travel letters and/or permits that authorize operation of ANY vessel. Customer complaints can be made through the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website at https://www.ftc.gov/.  You are encouraged to contact FTC. See Third Party Awareness - 2024

  • Expanded Online Ordering

The NVDC’s eStorefront provides customers with an efficient and secure means to electronically apply for products directly with the US Coast Guard.  Customers can:

  •  Apply for an initial, replacement, or exchange of a Certificate of Documentation.
  •  Apply for Return to Documentation.
  •  Renew their Recreational vessel’s Certificate of Documentation (COD) for 1 to 5 years.
  •  Renew their Commercial/Registry endorsements on their COD for one-year.
  •  Renew their Fleet’s CODs
  •  Request an Abstract of Title (A/T) and/or Certified Copy of COD (CCOD).
  •  Change their address.
  •  File a Mortgage or Related Instrument.
  •  File a Satisfaction, Release of Mortgage or Lien.
  •  File a Notice of Claim of Lien.
  •  File a Bill of Sale and related Instruments.
  •  Request a Deletion Letter.
  •  Request a Certificate of Ownership for a Single Vessel or Multiple Unrelated Vessels.
  •  Request a Certificate of Ownership for a Fleet of Vessels.

​For products and services not listed, please contact the NVDC.

Customer Survey

Your opinion matters to us, and the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is committed to providing you with excellent customer service.  Your feedback will guide efforts to improve the Vessel Documentation Program. Please visit NVDC Customer Feedback to complete the survey. 

 

Mission Statement

The National Vessel Documentation Center facilitates maritime commerce and the availability of financing while protecting economic privileges of United States citizens through the enforcement of regulations, and provides a register of vessels available in time of war or emergency to defend and protect the United States of America.

 

 

NVDC Case Processing Report

The U.S. Department of Defense is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998. DoD websites use the WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standard.

For persons with disabilities experiencing difficulties accessing content on a particular website, please use the form DoD Section 508 Form.  In this form, please indicate the nature of your accessibility issue/problem and your contact information so we can address your issue or question. If your issue involves log in access, password recovery, or other technical issues, contact the administrator for the website in question, or your local helpdesk.