What to Know About a National Vessel Documentation Center Search by Name?

Have you been trying to find more information about a vessel but aren’t sure where to turn? Do you have some info about a vessel and are looking for more from an unimpeachable source? If so, we can help. We know that, in our modern, digital age, there is more information about vessels available than ever. However, it’s important to parse through that information, to find what you can trust. Those are some of the reasons that more people than ever have performed a National Vessel Documentation Center search by name at our site. 

Our information comes from the authorities themselves. This is a direct link to their database. So, this is, in every sense of the phrase, “coming right from the source.” There is no more trustworthy source when it comes to vessel information. This is true information that you can rely upon. 

How to Do a National Vessel Documentation Center Search by Name 

We understand how frustrating it can be to only have some of the information that you want about a vessel. So, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for vessel owners from all walks of life to be able to get the information that they needed that much faster. Thus, at our site, to perform a search, all you need to do is to type in a vessel’s “HIN” or “Official Number.” 

The “HIN” is the vessel’s “Hull Identification Number.” You don’t need both. If you have the official number or the HIN, then you can perform the search. From there, you can best identify the vessel that you want to learn more about. This may sound overly simplistic, but it’s not. That’s really everything you need to know to be able to perform a search at our site. 

What You Can Find in This Search 

You’ll get pertinent vessel information from a source you can trust. Of course, you’ll get the basics about the vessel: its HIN or official number (if you didn’t type in both), the vessel’s name, (its flag, and so forth). However, you’ll also be able to see all of its documentation and certifications as well. You’ll be able to see exactly what’s going on with the vessel’s Certificate of Documentation. That way, you’ll know precisely what the vessel’s status is. 

Beyond that, you’ll also be able to see which endorsement/service it has (such as “recreation,” “coastwise,” “fishery,” “registry,” and so forth). You’ll also be told what all of the vessel’s dimensions are, from its depth, breadth, length, and more you may need to know. Crucially, you’ll be given the vessel’s “build year,” too, so that there is no question about what year the vessel was made. 

You may be aware of how important a vessel’s tonnage is to its documentation eligibility. This search will let you know the vessel’s net tonnage as well as any service information, cargo authority, and more. Every vessel and every search are different. What information you may receive for one vessel you may not receive for another. 

What to Keep in Mind About this Search 

We provide access to the search information but we do not control the database itself. Thus, we cannot update it ourselves. If changes were recently made to a vessel’s status, it may not be reflected in a search yet. That would be because the authorities have yet to update the database on their end. Additionally, the managing owner’s name, address, and more will not be in the search either. 

How to Find Other Information You May Need 

This search function is just one of the ways we have of helping vessel owners to learn more about a vessel. If you want to find out more info, we recommend applying for an “Abstract of Title.” That, in turn, will give you the managing owner’s name, address, and more. 

The Abstract of the Title can be invaluable if you’re looking to find out more about a vessel before purchasing it. Indeed, many utilize this form while doing their research, so that they can know everything about a vessel before they purchase it. 

The Abstract of the Title is only for vessels in America. If you’re looking for information about a vessel outside of the United States, you may be aided by another form at our site: the “Foreign Vessel Title Search Request/Transcript of Registry.”

National Vessel Documentation Center Search by Name

A Better Process for Searching and More 

To make the search that much easier, we’ve optimized our site for mobile devices. This means that you can perform this search from anywhere and on any device. You could do it from your port, bow, dock, or anywhere else. To see all of the ways that we help vessel owners come to our site today.