United States Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

Moderator: Jim Walsh

Post Reply
User avatar
Sea Hunt Video
Posts: 2561
Joined: May 4th, '11, 19:03
Location: Former caretaker S/V Bali Ha'i 1982 CD 25D; Hull 69 and S/V Tadpole Typhoon Week

United States Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center

Post by Sea Hunt Video »

I received an "official" looking notification from the "Vessel Documentation Portal" notifying me of my upcoming "EXPIRATION" and urging me to contact them to promptly renew my USCG documentation. The letter has a very pretty seal in the upper left corner making it appear to be "official". They also use a website that ends with ".US", making it appear to be a legitimate and official US Gov't website, etc.

IT IS NOT :!: :!: :!:

The correct address for USCG renewal is:

USCG/National Vessel Documentation Center
792 T J Jackson Drive
Falling Waters, West Virginia 25419

Just remember that "Falling Rivers" ain't near any body of water and the USCG/VDC is far from any legitimate body of water. But it is the legitimate address. The story behind the location of the USCG/VDC is for another day. Senator Robert Byrd was a powerful senator in his day. :wink: :D

The correct USCG/VDC website is:

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organizati ... gulations/

The correct email address is:

nvdc.w.webmaster@uscg.mil

The correct Phone Numbers are:

(800) 799-8362

or

(304) 271-2400

You do not need to pay any "service fee" to renew. Renewing is as easy as paying your monthly electric bill. You get a legitimate notice from the USCG/VDC. You update it and mail it back with your check for $26. Easy, peasy, weasy. If you renew through this "Vessel Documentation Portal" it will coast you $75 :!: :!: I called and asked. You save almost $50 which can buy two or more cases of Guinness. :D :wink:
Fair winds,

Roberto

a/k/a Sea Hunt "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
________________________________
"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, as quoted in Naval History and Heritage Command, http://www.history.navy.mil
Top
User avatar
Joe Myerson
Posts: 2216
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 11:22
Location: s/v Creme Brulee, CD 25D, Hull #80, Squeteague Harbor, MA

Re: United States Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center

Post by Joe Myerson »

Yes, Roberto, it's a frigging fake.

I was all set to fall for this scam, but after carefully reading and re-reading it, I realized what it was,

So, thanks for the warning.

There's no need to go through a private service to renew your documentation. The USCG is still doing that.

Waiting til next year!

--Joe
Former Commodore, CDSOA
Former Captain, Northeast Fleet
S/V Crème Brûlée, CD 25D, Hull # 80

"What a greate matter it is to saile a shyppe or goe to sea."
--Capt. John Smith, 1627
Top
Keith
Posts: 576
Joined: Sep 14th, '12, 20:01
Location: Moon Dance 1979 CD 30C Hull # 134

Re: United States Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center

Post by Keith »

I get those fake ones every year. They almost got me the first time but when I saw that they were charging me to submit what I could submit for free I hit delete immediately.

Keith
Top
Neil Gordon
Posts: 4367
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
Contact:
Contact Neil Gordon

Re: United States Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Center

Post by Neil Gordon »

The real one from Homeland Security arrived in today's mail.
Fair winds, Neil

s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA

CDSOA member #698
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Cape Dory Sailboats”