Canceling USCG COD and FCC's Radio License?

[baz]

Subject: Canceling USCG COD and FCC's Radio License?

I have a need to cancel my USCG's Certificate of Documentation (COD) and its FCC's Radio License I had associated with my recently sold R29 CB.

Canceling the Radio License was straight forward and provided a refund on its unused terms of use. Canceling the Radio License allows a new owner for the boat to secure their own Radio License for the boat.

However, canceling the COD was not only tedious but involved paying a fee close to $300. To me this is extortionate. Yes, the Govt. is always raising fees to make up for lost revenues these days, but I object. Given this, I will not attempt to cancel the COD and just let it expire with me simply informing the USCG I've sold the boat.

In WA state a boat that is Documented with the USCG, there's no Title required and selling a boat simply requires one to inform them its been sold so they no longer bill for annual excise taxes. The new owner will be responsible for this.

What have others decided on doing in this regards when selling their boats ?

Thanks.... 🙂

 

[BB marine]

Normally the boat would stay documented. The USCG documentation certificate is the title. When selling the boat the new owner of the boat or purchaser should have ordered an abstract of title from the Coast Guard this shows them that there are no liens on the boat and the boat is owned free and clear by you the boat owner. When you sold the boat you would sign the Certificate of Documentation and have it notarized as a bill of sale. The new owner has the option to maintain the boat as the new owner using the same numbers and the boat is now documented in their name. I they don't want to document it they would send the paper work into the Coast Guard showing that you signed it over to them. I would think they would want to keep the boat documented. I believe that is the best form of titling a boat can have. My opinion.

 

[baz]

Thanks. Yes, the COD will be maintained by the new owner, and I agree with you that it's the best way for 'titling' the boat. 🙂

 

[FlyMeAway]

If I were a new owner I would be very annoyed to have the COD cancelled. You should not have to do this; the buyer should have paid a transfer fee and all of this should have been handled by the titling agency -- who did you use? Pacific Maritime or Van Ness title (the two I've used in WA state) should have done this for you.

Regarding the FCC license, it's the same thing! As a buyer, I would be very annoyed if the prior owner had a Ships Station License and didn't at least offer to transfer it to me...

 

[baz]

FlyMeAway: As I said, the COD was not cancelled, but was referring to the excessive fee for cancellation.

The FCC Radio License cannot be transferred from my readings. I sold a RT boat in 2016, and the new owner tried to transfer it and was told "No", the previous owner has to cancel it before you can get a new FCC Radio License. Hence the reason I canceled mine.

 

[BB marine]

When I sold my Cutwater I canceled the radio station license which held the MMSI number that is now stored in the VHF- AIS radio in the boat. I gave the MMSI number to the new owner and told him to apply for the Radio station license and request the MMSI number that I had. As long as the number is canceled it is available for the new owner to use. Using the old MMSI number will save the new owner from removing the programed MMSI number from the VHF. In some cases this is not easy to have done. It requires the radio removal and sent into the radio manufacture to remove. I called the FCC before I sold the boat and this is what they told be to do.

 

[baz]

BB marine: Very true.

MMSI xxxxxxxxxx was issued directly by FCC in conjunction with a Ship Station License.

Authorized MMSI issuing agents can access and administer only those MMSI registrations that they initiated.

You and the seller will have to contact the FCC to make any changes. The knowledgeable and helpful staff at their Licensing Support Center in Gettysburg, PA can be reached at 1-877-480-3201.

Note that the Ship Station License automatically becomes void when the License expires or the vessel’s ownership transfers. (FCC will not automatically know about it and, therefore, must be notified of the sale and cancellation – the seller’s responsibility.) The MMSI is allowed, however, to be re-associated with the new owner’s Ship Station License if the vessel is still required to be licensed, provided that it has been closed by the seller.

If no longer required to be licensed and assuming continued US registration, the new owner may transfer and continue to use the existing MMSI by going to https://www.boatus.com/mmsi/FCCNonRenewals.asp and completing a new registration account using the existing MMSI number.

 

[FlyMeAway]

FlyMeAway: As I said, the COD was not cancelled, but was referring to the excessive fee for cancellation.

The FCC Radio License cannot be transferred from my readings. I sold a RT boat in 2016, and the new owner tried to transfer it and was told "No", the previous owner has to cancel it before you can get a new FCC Radio License. Hence the reason I canceled mine.

This is technically correct in it's wording, but incorrect in its outcome.

You are right: the new owner cannot apply to transfer. The current owner has to transfer it or cancel it. For most of our purposes, the FCC technically calls it an assignment, not a transfer (which can get confusing, because a transfer means something else to the FCC). It would be a transfer if you owned the boat in an LLC, in which case the LLC has to own the license (my boat is owned in an LLC).

You do this by filing an FCC form 603. See the detailed information at the bottom of the "licensing" tab on this page: https://www.fcc.gov/ship-radio-stations

Here's the text from the FCC (bold added):

What to Do If Selling Your Ship
If you sell your ship, you may request a cancellation of your license via ULS
Once your license is cancelled, the new owner may apply for a NEW license.

Or you may request a transfer of control or assignment of the vessel to the new owner. See "Assigning or Transferring a Ship Station License."

If you have a RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR PERMIT, you should retain it for future use since it is authorized for your lifetime.

Assigning or Transferring a Ship Station License
Subject to the FCC's advance approval, you may assign a Ship Station License (as when you are selling a vessel) or transfer control of a Ship Station License (as when there is a change in the ownership of the licensee or its parent company). To obtain the FCC's approval for the assignment or transfer of control, you must electronically file FCC Form 603 via ULS. There is no fee required. After the transaction is consummated, the assignee/transferee must file a notification of consummation through ULS. The notification of consummation must be filed within thirty (30) days of the actual consummation. (It must also be filed within six months after the FCC gives public notice of its consent to the application.)

 

[FlyMeAway]

Note that the Ship Station License automatically becomes void when the License expires or the vessel’s ownership transfers.

I believe this is technically true, but there might be a grace period and it is also possible that the assignment can be backdated (so I was told by the FCC).

 

[FlyMeAway]

I called the FCC before I sold the boat and this is what they told be to do.

Whoever told you this at the FCC was not giving you all your options, or was just simply incorrect. Transferring and assigning ships station licenses is done literally all the time.