What We Can Do, What We Can't Control

What you are not hiring is someone who can control the processing speed of a government agency.

That distinction matters.

What we do

Coralie Robins Vessel Documentation, Inc. is well versed in:

• U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation
• Florida vessel title and registration
• Vessel closing services
• Preferred Ship Mortgages
• Mortgage satisfactions and releases
• Ownership transfers
• Abstract and title review
• LLC, corporate, and trust ownership matters
• Documentation deficiencies
• State and federal filing requirements
• Lender-related documentation
• Private-party vessel transactions
• Complex vessel ownership and documentation issues

Our role is to take the paperwork burden off of the customer as much as possible. That includes preparing documents, reviewing the information provided, filing with the appropriate agency, following up, responding to deficiencies, researching issues, communicating with lenders or other parties when appropriate, and working through the parts of the process that can become complicated.

More than 20 years, and no two files have been exactly the same

After more than 20 years working in vessel documentation, title, registration, and closings, one thing has remained consistently true: no two files are exactly the same.

Two boats may be the same year, make, and model. Two buyers may live in the same state. Two transactions may even look almost identical on the surface. But once you begin reviewing ownership history, liens, documentation status, title records, lender requirements, entity structure, registration, taxes, and prior filings, each vessel develops its own story.

That is why we do not treat vessel documentation as a one-size-fits-all process. We pivot. We review what is actually in front of us. We apply what is necessary for that particular vessel and that particular transaction.

Your new vessel, or your new-to-you vessel, is unique. Your file should be handled that way.

We know when a matter needs someone else

No one professional should pretend to be the right person for every vessel-related problem. We work closely with a network of marine-industry professionals, including maritime attorneys, other vessel documentation companies, and professionals who would technically be considered competitors. We view that as a strength.

The marine industry is highly specialized, and different professionals have different areas of experience. If you bring us a matter that we do not believe is within our strongest area of expertise, or if we believe another professional would be a better fit for your situation, we will tell you. Whenever possible, we will also recommend someone we know and trust who may be better suited to assist.

Our goal is not to accept every file. Our goal is to help get the customer to the right place. Sometimes that means we handle the matter ourselves. Sometimes we work alongside another marine professional. And sometimes it means recommending that the customer speak directly with a maritime attorney, CPA, tax professional, customs specialist, or another documentation company with specialized experience in that particular issue.

See how we work with other marine professionals →

What we cannot control

We can control how carefully your paperwork is prepared. We can control whether we follow up. We can control whether we research an issue, respond to a deficiency, communicate with the appropriate parties, and continue working the file.

We cannot control the processing time of the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center. The NVDC processes applications from across the country, and its workload changes throughout the year. Processing times fluctuate depending on application volume, staffing, the type of transaction, deficiencies, additional review requirements, and other factors outside of our control.

How long should USCG documentation take?

In a perfect world, a complete USCG documentation matter may take approximately 8 to 12 weeks from start to finish. That is an expectation, not a guarantee.

Some transactions may be completed sooner. Others may take considerably longer. Every vessel has its own history, ownership structure, documentation record, and circumstances. Two applications submitted at similar times can move very differently.

“But my neighbor got theirs back in three weeks”

We hear versions of this often. A friend, neighbor, marina neighbor, broker, or family member completed their documentation in only a few weeks, so it is natural to assume another transaction should take the same amount of time. Unfortunately, vessel documentation does not work that way.

Your neighbor may have had:

• A straightforward individual ownership transfer
• No existing mortgage
• No lien issues
• A clean title chain
• No ownership discrepancies
• No deficiency letter
• No entity documents to review
• No lender involved
• No citizenship questions
• No HIN discrepancy
• No previous documentation problems

Your vessel may have an entirely different history. Even two nearly identical transactions can be reviewed at different times depending on the National Vessel Documentation Center's workload. One customer's processing time should never be used as a guaranteed timeline for another customer's transaction.

Why USCG documentation gets delayed, in detail →

The bottom line

After more than two decades in this industry, the one promise we can make is that we will treat your file like your file, not like the one before it.

• We will adapt when the facts change.
• We will research when something does not make sense.
• We will work through the hard parts.
• We will file what is required, follow up, respond to deficiencies, and coordinate with other professionals when necessary.

What we will not do is pretend every vessel transaction fits inside the same box. Your vessel is unique. Your ownership history is unique. Your transaction is unique. Your file deserves to be handled accordingly.