Basics On Vessel Name Change and Port of Registry

Vessel Registration

Names given to ships are meaningful. To the ship’s captain, this is usually of the utmost importance. Nearing the beginning of 2023, maybe you’ve been considering renaming your boat as part of a New Year’s resolution. On the other hand, perhaps you bought your boat from a previous owner and would rather pick a more personal choice of name. Many boat owners feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when they give their vessel a moniker that reflects some aspect of their personality or history. Taking this into account you’re probably wondering what the process is like and if it’s similar to a vessel registration

We know that you probably care more about spending a day fishing in the sun than you do about thinking about filling out paperwork and following legal procedures. This is why we’d like to share with you all the necessary forms you need to change the name of your boat and pretty much any other vessel registration process through our safe and easy-to-use portal.

The Process of Changing the Name of Your Boat

The first and easiest stage in the process is to finally make a final decision on the name you’ll be going with. After you have decided on the new name, you will need to complete the necessary paperwork and ensure that you have all of the necessary supporting documentation available in order to do so successfully. The official current vessel name, the port of entry, and the registration number are the pieces of information you will require. After you have gathered all of the necessary information, you will need to fill out a form that is titled “Change of Vessel Name and/or Transfer of Port of Registry.” This form is available on our website at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp.

Associated Costs and Document Handling

Aside from checking a box to indicate your intent to modify your ship’s name, you must also enter the names and contact information of all current owners. This holds true regardless of whether the owner is an individual or a corporation. An official application to change a ship’s name in Canada will set you back approximately $375.00. When you’re ready, changing your ship’s name is an easy process. 

The submission of all necessary forms is simplified at the National Vessel Registry’s online portal. Many boat owners have experienced the frustration of having a form they submitted returned to them because of minor mistakes like spelling or handwriting. The owner of the ship then had to start from scratch, a process that only made him more irritated as time passed.

Ports of Registry

As a little extra, we’d like to talk a little bit about the ports of the registry. The place or port where a ship is officially registered is called its “Port of Registry“. It need not be the ship’s usual port of call. If anything, it’s a system that helps keep things organized. Nonetheless, we understand that circumstances can shift. Potentially in the future, you’ll have to switch out one port for another. It’s possible that your employer requires you to relocate, and that the port closest to your current location might be more convenient. Use this form to change your ship’s port of registry.

Changing Port Of Registry

When beginning this process, it is important to keep in mind that a vessel can be registered in virtually any jurisdiction worldwide. You should be aware, however, that the place where you decide to port your boat is one of the most important factors to consider, so please take that into account before you register it at an old abandoned pirate island. 

Your choice of the port will come with associated costs, including taxes and registration fees. These costs are, sadly, not optional. When you choose a port of entry, you may be legally forced to obey different regulations or rules than you would be required to follow at some of the other ports you may visit within your country. This is especially clear when you think about how different the rules are in each country.

Vessel Registration

Easily Submit All Necessary Paperwork

Working with a third-party service such as ours can make the process of filing simpler and provide less chance for mistakes to occur when you are looking for either of those things. When completing their paperwork, many boat owners have had the unpleasant experience of experiencing delays in the processing of their documents due to clerical errors. Everything you need to submit your paperwork is available on our website in an electronic version that is simple to fill out. The most exciting part is that we check the work ourselves, using a crew that is committed to ensuring that the information we provide to you is accurate. 

We will get in touch with you to resolve any problems, saving you both time and hassle. Let us assist you in making the process of filling out the essential forms as simple and stress-free as possible. Make sure to explore our website for everything you may need.