COAST GUARD: Actions Needed to Improve National Vessel Documentation Center Operations

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1152659 | Open PDF

Abstract:

In fiscal year 2019, the NVDC documented about 230,000 vessels for commercial and recreational purposes in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard requires owners of certain sized commercial vessels to obtain vessel documentation - a form of vessel registration - through the NVDC. Vessel documentation is optional for owners of recreational vessels of 5 or more net tons (generally longer than 26 feet), and many do so to secure a mortgage for financing. In 2017, GAO reported that the NVDC faced backlogs in processing recreational vessel documentation. The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 includes a provision for GAO to review NVDCs operations. This report examines, among other objectives, the extent that the Coast Guard (1) met its NVDC workload demands and (2) measured NVDC's effectiveness in processing vessel documentation. GAO analyzed Coast Guard vessel documentation processing data for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 and information on its system used to process vessel documentation. GAO also interviewed cognizant Coast Guard officials.

Author(s):
Anderson, Nathan J. ; Berman, Jason ; Rodriguez, Luis E. ; Osta, Barbara E. ; Hauswirth, Eric ; Hooper, David ; Hsu, Susan ; Hutz, Emily ; Kwon, Grace ; Richardson, Terry
Author Organization(s):
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC
Funding Organization(s):
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WASHINGTON DC, WASHINGTON DC , DC
Document Type:
Technical Report/Congressional Report
Publication Date:
2020 Dec 16
Pagination:
55

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Modernization Areas:
Cyber
Communities of Interest:
Ground and Sea Platforms
Descriptor(s):
united states government, congress, information systems, maritime industry, department of homeland security, coast guard, commerce, law, national governments, naval architecture, governments, homeland security, resource management, task forces, customer services, financial management, measures of effectiveness
Keyword(s):
CERTIFICATE(CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION), COAST GUARD(US COAST GUARD), DHS(DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY), MARAD MARITIME ADMINISTRATION), NVDC(NATIONAL VESSEL DOCUMENTATION CENTER), OMB(OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET), VDS(VESSEL DOCUMENTATION SYSTEM)
Subject Categories:
Mechanical, Industrial, Civil and Marine Engineering; Behavioral and Social Sciences
Creation Date:
2021 Nov 12
Update Date:
2022 Jan 06