Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions for Usage of the vesseldocumentation.center Website

1. Terms

By accessing this website, you are agreeing to be bound by these website Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this website. The materials contained in this website are protected by applicable copyright and trademark law.

2. Use License

  1. Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials (information or software) on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s (VDO) website for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:
    1. modify or copy the materials;
    2. use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);
    3. attempt to deconstruct or reverse engineer any software contained on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s website;
    4. remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
    5. transfer the materials to another person or “mirror” the materials on any other server.
  2. This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by Vessel Documentation Online, LLC at any time.
  3. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.

3. Limitations

  1. By using this website, you, the customer, warrant to us that all information provided is true and accurate and that you are not using any transaction to commit any wrongful civil or criminal act.
  2. Likewise, if a documentation transaction is rejected due to any error in the completeness or accuracy of the information you provide, then the consequences for such are solely of your own doing, and VDO bears no responsibility or liability caused thereby.  This could include suspension of your rights to use your vessel and penalties, prosecution, and fines of up to $10,000 assessed by the USCG;
  3. In no event shall Vessel Documentation Online, LLC or its suppliers be liable for any consequential damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data, or lost profits, or damages due to business interruption) arising out of the use of inability to use the materials on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s uscgdocumentation.us website, even if Vessel Documentation Online, LLC or a Vessel Documentation Online, LLC authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage.

In no event shall Vessel Documentation Online, LLC or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s Internet website, even if Vessel Documentation Online, LLC or a Vessel Documentation Online, LLC authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.

4. Revisions and Errata

The materials appearing on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s website could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. Vessel Documentation Online, LLC does not warrant that any of the materials on its website are accurate, complete, or current. Vessel Documentation Online, LLC may make changes to the materials contained on its website at any time without notice. Vessel Documentation Online, LLC does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.

5. Links

Vessel Documentation Online, LLC has not reviewed all of the websites linked to its Internet website and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked website. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Vessel Documentation Online, LLC of the website. Use of any such linked website is at the user’s own risk.

6. Site Terms of Use Modifications

Vessel Documentation Online, LLC may revise these terms of use for its website at any time without notice. By using this website, you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.

7. Governing Law

Any claim relating to Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s website shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

8. Fees are Non-Refundable; Failure to respond Will Result in Cancellation of Application

  1. By accepting these terms and conditions and making all payments required for your transaction, you acknowledge that there will be no refund of any fees charged by us and paid by you for any reason.
  2. 90-Day Period to Respond to Deficiency in your Documentation:  I understand that if I do not respond to deficiency requests within 90 days of the date of the deficiency request, my application will be cancelled.
  3. Fees submitted for online applications include application fees to the NVDC as well as company fees for services provided.

9. Disclaimer; Cancellation/ Refund Policy

  1. I understand that Vessel Documentation Online, LLC is NOT the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Vessel Documentation Center.
  2. I understand that Vessel Documentation Online, LLC does not represent any government agency and is not endorsed by any governmental agency.
  3. I understand I am submitting my application through a private company.
  4. I understand that all of my application and processing fees regarding the submission of my application are nonrefundable.
  5. I understand that in the event I desire to cancel my application, my fees are nonrefundable.
  6. I understand that my application will be processed in the order in which it was received and no exact time frame regarding my application can be given as every application is unique.
  7. The materials on Vessel Documentation Online, LLC’s website and mailed publications are provided “as is.” Vessel Documentation Online, LLC makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchant ability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, Vessel Documentation Online, LLC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet website or mailed publications or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.
  8. This service has not been approved or endorsed by any agency of the government.
  9. [This is not a government sponsored website, but is a private fee-for-service company assisting private vessel owners in seeking registrations, renewals, and other documentation requirement of the National Vessel Documentation Center of the U.S. Coast Guard]
  10. Please be advised that applications submitted over the weekend will be processed the following Monday.
  11. VDO is not responsible for lost, damaged or destroyed mail.

10. Eliminate The Possibility of Reinstatement Fees By Paying Your Yearly Renewal Documentation In Advance.

  1. The NVDC requires an annual renewal of all active vessel registrations, which can only be done, each year, one at a time. In order to avoid a lapse in registration we offer a pre-paid service to you. This is not a subscription. You will not get charged a yearly fee.
    It is an advance payment option for future renewals and you will only get charged a one-time fee at the time of your application submission per the number of years selected. VDO will pay all government fees on your behalf to the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center, for the selected amount of years.
  2. You will automatically receive a certificate of documentation with the validity of one year, per the number of years selected.
  3. In the event of cancellation, please be advised that all processing and application fees are non-refundable. As a courtesy, fees paid for the unused renewal years can be applied to other documentation services offered by VDO.
  4. I understand that each completed Certificate of Documentation will be valid for a maximum period of one (1) year after issuance.
  5. I understand that renewing my current Certificate of Documentation (COD) before its expiration month, will produce the issuance of a new certificate of documentation with a 1 year validity, and in turn will cause the current certificate of documentation to become invalid (shortening it’s 1 year validity) as the newly issued certificate of documentation supersedes the current COD.

11. Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.

  • Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.
  • We will collect and make use of personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain the consent of the individual concerned or as required by law.
  • We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
  • We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.
  • Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
  • We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
  • We will make readily available, to customers, information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
  • We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.

Vessel Documentation Online, LLC and uscgdocumentation.us are NOT the National Vessel Documentation Center; we are a third party agency that handles U.S. Coast Guard Documentation processing to NVDC.

Web Site Privacy & Security Policy

12. Disclaimer and limitation of liability

This system is monitored to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for other like purposes. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring. Unauthorized attempts to modify any information stored on this system, to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes are prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution.

13. Restriction of liability

Vessel Documentation Online, LLC Inc. make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this web site and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this web site. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the contents of this web site or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources. Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Vessel Documentation Online, LLC.

14. Ownership

Information presented on this web site is considered copyrighted material. Vessel Documentation Online, LLC is the sole owner of the trademarks and copyrights related to www.uscgdocumentation.us However, all information submitted to the Vessel Documentation Online, LLC via this site shall be deemed and remain the property of the Vessel Documentation Online, LLC, except those submissions made under separate legal contract.

We collect no personal information about you when you visit our website unless you choose to provide this information to us. However, we collect and store certain information automatically. Here is how we handle information about your visit to our website.

15. What We Collect and Store Automatically

If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the website, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit automatically. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store only the following information about your visit:

  1. The Internet domain (for example, “xcompany.com” if you use a private Internet access account, or “yourschool.edu” if you connect from a university’s domain) and IP address (an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Web) from which you access our website;
  2. The type of browser and operating system used to access our site;
  3. The date and time you access our site;
  4. If you linked to our website from another website, the address of that website.

We use the information we collect to count the number and type of visitors to the different pages on our site, and to help us make our site more useful to visitors like you.

16. If You Send Us E-mail

You may choose to provide us with personal information, as in e-mail with a comment or question. We use the information to improve our service to you or to respond to your request. Sometimes we forward your e-mail to other government employees who may be better able to help you like the National Vessel Documentation Center. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, we do not share our e-mail with any other outside organizations.

17. Cookies

“Cookies” are small bits of text that are either used for the duration of a session (“session cookies”), or saved on a user’s hard drive in order to identify that user, or information about that user, the next time the user logs on to a Web site (“persistent cookies”). This Web site does not use persistent cookies or any other persistent tracking technology. One or more of our component sites may use session cookies to provide streamlined navigation. These session cookies are deleted from the component’s server after your session ends and information from them is not collected or saved.

18. Information Protection

For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, this computer system employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. If such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, such evidence may be provided to appropriate law enforcement officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information on this server are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act or other law.

19. Linking Policy

VDO links to many websites created and maintained by other public/and/or private organizations. VDO provides these links as a service to our users. When users link to an outside website, they are leaving the VDO’S site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website(s).

20. Prohibitions

VDO will not link to any website that exhibits hate, bias or discrimination. Furthermore, we reserve the right to deny or remove any link that contains misleading information or unsubstantiated claims, or is determined to be in conflict with United States Coast Guard’s mission or policies.

21. Disclaimer of Endorsement

The information posted on the VDO website includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other Government/ public and/or private organizations. VDO provides these links and pointers solely for our users’ information and convenience. When users select a link to an outside website, they are leaving the VDO site and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website.

  • •VDO does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of information contained on a linked website.
  • •VDO does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites and we do not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
  • •VDO does not and cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked websites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked website.
  • •VDO is not responsible for transmissions users receive from linked websites.
  • •VDO does not guarantee that outside websites comply with the requirements of Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.

22. Retention of Information

We destroy the information we collect when the purpose for which it was provided has been fulfilled unless we are required to keep it longer by statute or official policy. Electronically submitted information is maintained and destroyed according to the principles of the Federal Records Act and the regulations and records schedules approved by the National Archives and Records Administration and in some cases information submitted to us may become an agency record and therefore might be subject to a Freedom of Information Act request.

23. Notice of Monitoring

You are entering the VDO online documentation System, which may be used only for authorized purposes. VDO may monitor and audit usage of this system, and all persons are hereby notified that use of this system constitutes consent to such monitoring and auditing. Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on these web sites are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and 18 U.S.C. §§1001 and 1030.

24. Release and Limitation of Liability

Client shall release, hold harmless and indemnify VDO and their respective employees and representatives, of and from any and all disputes, actions, claims, demands, liabilities, judgements, and attorney fees, which are related to or arise directly from the use of our services/site/advertising/materials/activities, howsoever caused, including, without limitation, those due to the negligence, fault or other act or omission of VDO or of their respective employees or representatives. By accepting the terms and conditions by submitting an application though the online portal www.uscgdocumentation.us or by phone still subject to these terms and conditions.

25. Governing Law; Arbitration of Disputes.

By clicking submit and agreeing to the terms and conditions “The Agreement” The validity, interpretation, and performance of this agreement shall be controlled by and construed under the laws of the State of California. Any dispute, claim or controversy which arises from or is related to this agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration, before pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or ADR Services, Inc. to be conducted within the County of VDO’S business Los Angeles California. This includes any dispute whatsoever or any claim for any act or omission. However, any claim that may be alleged within the jurisdiction of VDO’S Small Claims Courts of Los Angeles and san Bernardino counties.