USCG Vessel Abstract of Title Overview and Guidelines
USCG vessel abstract of title overview with ordering and interpretation guidelines.
A USCG vessel abstract of title is unique to the marine industry with regard to form and function. It is the only medium which affords a complete synopsis of all historical events with respect to ownership, transfers, mortgages, and lien recordings. An abstract represents one of the more important advantages of documenting any qualified vessel. This article presents a detailed overview of what vessel abstracts are, when they are created, and how they relate to boat titling in general. You will also gain insights into ordering and interpreting an abstract for any documented vessel.
What is an Abstract of Title
When a vessel is
initially documented, the Coast Guard creates a corresponding master record
called a General Index or Abstract of Title. In
addition to some basic information about the vessel, all
transactions involving changes of ownership, mortgages, supplements,
and liens are recorded as individual entries. The abstract may
also contain notational information regarding a vessel's
documentation status. Abstracts are maintained indefinitely, even
after a vessel is removed from documentation. An example of what an
abstract may look like is available in the Referrals for these guidelines.
Comparisons:
Vessel abstracts are similar to those employed in the real estate industry
with respect to the manner in which transactions are recorded. However, they
apply only to USCG documented vessels and are not offered by state boat
registration agencies.
Data Entry Methods
Until recently, abstracts were maintained on paper with entries typed or handwritten. Today, entries are posted to an electronic database. Instruments such as bills of sale, mortgages, and supplements are scanned into digital form and the paper original is destroyed. Most filings may now be submitted electronically with no original documents required.
Vessel Specifications
Abstracts of title do not typically show a vessel's dimensions, model year, or tonnage. However, the place and year built will be indicated if such evidence was provided by an applicant. The current and previous vessel names are listed on an abstract, but hailing ports are not included. Vessel hull identification numbers are now shown, but this was not always the case and some may still be absent on older abstracts. The official Coast Guard documentation number always present as this has now become a vessel's primary identifier. Trade endorsements are shown on a certificate of documentation, but not the abstract of title.
Ownership Information
One of the primary functions
of a vessel's abstract of title is to identify the most current
ownership of record. This may consist of single individuals, multiple
individuals, and legal entities such as corporations, partnerships, or
limited liability companies. It will also show the method of ownership with
respect to the manner in which multiple parties elected to hold tenancy. An
abstract of title is crucial for obtaining this type of data because the
exact methods of ownership are not always apparent on a Certificate of
Documentation.
Chain of Ownership: A major advantage in documenting a boat with the U.S. Coast
Guard is the resulting abstract of title. If a vessel remains in
documentation since built, the abstract will show a complete chain
of transfers right up to the current owner. This can enhance the
boat's value as documentation is the only venue in which a seller
can produce such a complete record. Not all abstracts
show a complete chain of ownership however, as vessels can move in
and out of documentation leaving gaps in the continuity of recorded owners.
State boat registration agencies do not maintain this type of an ownership
index.
Mortgages and Liens
A Coast Guard certificate of documentation does not reveal any liens and encumbrances such as secured lender interests or claimant notifications. These are recorded the vessel's underlying abstract of title as preferred mortgages or notices of claim of lien. Although mortgages gain priority chronologically according to the date filed, this is not the case with maritime claims. These are typically prioritized in favor of the date on which the most recent lien arose. Mortgages and claims are discharged by recording a respective satisfaction of mortgage or release of interest on the abstract.
Recording Details
Abstracts of title consist
mostly of recording entries showing ownership transfers, lien claims,
preferred vessel mortgages, and supplements such as mortgage amendments,
assignments, assumptions, or subordinations. These
recordings also include release, satisfaction, or discharge
recordings which offset mortgages and lien claims. Each entry
indicates the instrument date, date filed, recording type, parties names,
any respective considerations, and references to other recordings when
applicable. There will also be an indication as to whether a filing has been terminated due to recording deficiencies.
Entry Codes: They type of instrument is shown on all abstract
entries. Although this is spelled out on newer recordings, older postings
may be identified with a three or four letter code. A decoding chart can be
found in the Referrals for these guidelines.
Interpreting and Summarizing an Abstract
Abstracts may range from a few entries to many pages,
especially for older vessels or those engaged in commerce. Recording formats
have also changed over the years, so it is common to see mixed styles, older
codes, and outdated abbreviations. Although contemporary abstract postings
are less cryptic, you may still encounter some of the older configurations.
Interpreting the Abstract:
The usual reason for obtaining an abstract of title is that of determining
the current ownership and to identify any outstanding mortgages and lien
claims. However there is also a historical aspect of investigating the chain
of ownership and looking for any recordings or entries that may provide
clues about the vessel's origins and usage.
Summarizing an Abstract: If the
goal is to verify the current ownership and determine any outstanding
mortgages or lien claims, it will be necessary to first track any postings
related to the establishment and subsequent transfers of ownership. You must
then make sure that any mortgages or claims of lien have been negated or
offset by release or satisfaction recordings. The abstract summary form
shown in the References for this guide may prove helpful in bringing all of
this together.
Certificate of Ownership: Should you find all of this
too overwhelming, the Coast Guard does offer a certificate of ownership
which provides a certified summarization as performed by an NVDC official.
However, it may take longer to obtain and is more costly. Information about
certificates of ownership can be found in the References for this guide.
Professional Assistance:
There are also a number of vessel documentation service companies that can
obtain and summarize an abstract on your behalf. However, this may prove
even more costly than a Certificate of Ownership and is not USCG certified.
Errors and Omissions
It is not unusual to find errors, omissions, or inconsistencies among abstract of title recordings. However, it takes a trained eye to detect and identify the exact nature of such deficiencies. In these cases, the National Vessel Documentation Center should be immediately notified along with a request for a corrected abstract.
Ordering an Abstract
USCG abstracts of title
are only available by placing an order through the NVDC's eStorefront. This
will entail establishing an account and payment can only be made with a
credit card. Information on using the eStorefront can be found in the
References for these guidelines. An abstract can be returned by email and
the usual response time occurs within 24 to 48 business hours depending on
their workload. However, this could take much longer on older vessels that
have dropped out of documentation. In this case, it would need to be
retrieved from their archive storage area which is located off-site.
Recorded Instrument Copies: Copies of all recorded instruments
shown on an abstract of title are available to the general public. However
these can only be obtained by placing a special Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request with the U.S. Coast Guard. instructions for going about this
can be found in the References for these guidelines.
Documentation Companies: There are a number of online vessel
documentation companies that will order an abstract on your behalf. However,
they are going to charge two or three times the actual fee for simply
placing an order that you could easily do on your own. Also beware of
any vessel documentation service company that mimics the appearance of an
official USCG website.
Conclusion
These guidelines were compiled by a maritime professional and enhanced with AI technology. While we strive for accuracy, the content may contain errors, omissions, or misstatements and is subject to change without notice. Before acting on this material, you should consult the appropriate authority or a qualified legal professional.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections
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