This update is to help Bristol Bay fishermen stay informed on Certificate of Documentation (COD) requirements, recent changes to renewal procedures, and how the 2026 Department of Homeland Security funding lapse is affecting vessel documentation services. Please review the information below so you know what to expect this season and how to stay compliant while processing delays are in place.

USCG No longer sending COD renewal notices

As of 2026, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) is no longer sending Certificate of Documentation (COD) renewal notices in the mail, and vessel owners are expected to renew their COD via the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) eStorefront prior to expiration. To check your COD expiration date, you can search your vessel status at : https://cgmix.uscg.mil/psix/psixsearch.aspx. Enter your vessel name, press the search button, then click your vessel name to see the complete information.

NVDC COD guidance during lapse in federal funding

As of February 14, 2026, the partial federal shutdown has halted vessel documentation services at the United States Coast Guard. CODs, including renewals and new submissions, are not currently being processed. Vessel owners should still submit renewal applications prior to expiration through the National Vessel Documentation Center eStorefront (http://www.uscg.mil/nvdc).

The USCG has confirmed with BBRSDA that MSIB 06-25 remains the current guidance during the lapse in DHS funding. The relevant portion states:

“Certificates of Documentation

Processing commercial vessel documentation requests including renewals cannot be accomplished without violating the Anti-Deficiency Act. Certificates of Documentation (COD) for commercial vessels will not be processed, except for those COD requests for initial issuance (such as re-flag or new construction) necessary to meet national defense requirements (e.g., vessels enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) or those vessels actively carrying Department of Defense (DoD) cargo). However, vessel owners and operators should continue to submit renewal applications to the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) prior to the expiration of the COD. In such cases, the following additional guidance is provided:

Vessels Engaged on Domestic Voyages Only (Coastwise/Fisheries)

Vessel owners and operators with a COD that expired after October 1, 2025, may continue to operate domestically on the previously issued trade endorsements provided a renewal application has been submitted to the NVDC. Vessel owners should be prepared to present evidence, upon request, to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) or the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC), that a renewal application was submitted. There will be no written dispensation granted for U.S. flag vessels operating on domestic voyages only.

New Construction/Initial Certification (All Trade Endorsements)

In accordance with the Marine Safety Manual, Vol. II, an initial Certificate of Inspection may be completed before the COD is issued provided the NVDC has received the application for documentation. Vessel representatives should be prepared to present evidence that the application was submitted to the NVDC, upon request, from the OCMI. There will be no written dispensation granted for U.S. flag vessels operating on domestic voyages only.”

This means that carrying a printed receipt from the NVDC eStorefront showing you submitted a renewal and your expired COD on board your vessel would allow you to operate your vessel during the 2026 Bristol Bay season, even if your renewal has not yet been processed due to the DHS shutdown. For more details, click here to read the full MSIB.

At this time, the USCG has not provided guidance for those who are submitting an initial COD upon the sale of a vessel, or those who need to amend their COD during the shutdown. However, you are still able to submit initial COD applications to the NVDC eStorefront and they will be processed once funding is restored.

Be aware of misleading websites and scams

The COD renewal fee is $26, and the fee for an initial Certificate of Documentation is $84. Be aware that third-party websites may offer to submit COD paperwork for additional fees. To avoid these services, make sure you are using the official National Vessel Documentation Center website at www.uscg.mil/nvdc, which is part of the United States Coast Guard and uses a “.mil” or “.gov” domain—not “.com.” Any extra fees charged by third-party companies are not associated with the NVDC, and these companies are not authorized to issue documentation, travel letters, or permits that allow a vessel to operate.