Multi-Year Documentation Considered by USCG
Outlined in this article by our good friend, Make Ahart of Waterway Guide, are steps for you to submit your comments regarding a multi-year vessel documentation. While the multi-year documentation would affect the average boat owner, it would appear that the implementation of the new process will have the most effect on large fleets.
Multi-year documentation renewals being considered
Date Reported: Mar 3, 2015
Reported By: Mike Ahart, News Editor
Source: Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41
Back in August 2014, the Coast Guard instituted a $26 yearly fee for vessel documentation renewals. In the comments submitted before the ruling, many boaters felt the fees were reasonable, and others did not; however, most wished for a multi-year renewal option.
Boaters ‘“ especially full-time cruisers ‘“ will be glad to know that the Coast Guard is considering offering a two-year and/or three-year option, making renewals much more convenient. Since the fee itself was instituted due to laws requiring federal agencies to recover the processing costs of services, it stands to reason that multi-year renewals will also afford a discount compared to renewing year-by-year. The “Request for Information” section does not mention any discounts for multi-year renewals; however, the “Supplemental Information” section mentions a possible modification to the fee.
Comments can be submitted online or otherwise on or before June 1, 2015. From the Federal Register:
The Coast Guard seeks public comment on whether to increase the period of validity for renewing endorsements on Certificates of Documentation. A separate fee of $26 for annual renewals of endorsements upon the Certificate of Documentation was established in a recent rulemaking. The Coast Guard is considering options for implementing multiyear renewals and updating the fee for services, and seeks information on factors to consider when implementing these changes.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before June 1, 2015 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
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Comments from Cruisers (3)
Multi-year documentation is a good idea. I’m not happy with a multi-year fee. I don’t like the idea of the USCG charging for work they don’t perform. So I would urge them to charge a minimal processing and record-keeping fee. I would not presume to know the administrative costs associated with this.
I would vocally oppose any scheme which raises requirements, or adds paperwork to what is presently, a simple and efficient process. Bureaucracy being what it is; somebody will try to gather more information, or make something more complicated than it is. I hope that doesn’t happen, but I won’t hold my breath.
USCG Master Captain Robert S. Viola – USNR (ret)
With the long…and in my opinion…unreasonable processing time for new boat documentation requests, I believe a multi-year documentation would be in the best interests of boaters as well as the obviously overworked staff at the vessel documentation center. I am in favor of a multi-year documentation…perhaps 3 to 5 years would be practical.
Offering a multi-year option for vessel documentation would go a long way in simplifying life for cruisers abroad. The online option will be a big step towards this improvement, but having a multi-year option would be a huge advantage. Many of the areas visited have either poor Internet service or poor mail service or both. Being able to have valid documentation over several years, reduces the impact of these barriers while not requiring a trip home each year to secure the documentation renewal paper.