The proof of vessel ownership you submit to the USCG must list your name as the owner, and must also match the vessel identification information you use on your CG-719S form. Acceptable proof of ownership may include, although is not limited to:
- Vessel documentation
- Title
- Proof of insurance
- Bill of sale
- State registration
If I own multiple boats do I need to provide Proof of Ownership for each boat to get my USCG license?
Yes, you will need to provide proof of ownership for every vessel you are submitting to the USCG if you own the boat.
The USCG will only accept sea time that is accompanied with proof of ownership. If you are attesting to your own sea time on your own boats, make sure to sign both parts of section III of the 719S form.
What's the best way to track down proof of ownership documentation for vessels that I sold years ago?
We recommend looking through any old documentation to find anything that has your name and a vessel ID on it before you create your sea service letters or CG-719S form, as these need to match. If you do not have any records of your ownership of the vessel you can contact your insurance agent, the state where it was registered, or anyone else you can think of that may have some type of documentation that has your name and the vessel ID number on it that indicates you are the owner of the boat, such as a marina where you kept the boat, or a boat storage facility where you kept it on the hard.
Will a picture of my boat work for proof of ownership?
No, Photos of vessels are not acceptable as proof of ownership. If you are not the owner of the vessel, someone with knowledge of your service must attest to its accuracy and validity in the proper location on the form by signing it and completing the associated required information.
We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!
MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Expert Access inside of the site.
No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application you can do it yourself, or you can hand the whole thing to us. An MM-SEAS Navita Navigator walks you through submitting in Navita, the Coast Guard's new submission portal, on a short video call. No computer, or not up for a video call? Our team gets your application submitted to the Coast Guard for you anyway. A Stress-Free MMC is $399. Two MM-SEAS licensing experts check every page, we pay your Coast Guard fees at submission and charge your card so you never touch pay.gov, and we stay on it with the National Maritime Center until your credential is issued.
MM-SEAS Expert Access is $99 a year. It is your personal guidance counselor for USCG licensing: what training you need next, which sea time counts, and how to reach the credential you want, by phone, email, chat or a 1 on 1 video call. Expert Access members also get $50 off a Stress-Free MMC.
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About the author
Nate Gilman is President and Co-Founder of MM-SEAS. He hawsepiped from the deck to a 3rd Mate Unlimited license with full STCW compliance over more than 15 years at sea, and is a veteran of the NOAA Commissioned Corps. He works directly with the National Maritime Center, USCG-approved training schools, and vessel operators on credentialing policy, and writes on sea service documentation, evaluation standards, and how mariners move up the license ladder.
