Ships Name and Homeport

Ships Name and Homeport

Jun 11, 2015

  • Action: To Do List item B0005 – Obtain ships name and homeport stencils.
  • Completed:  30 April 2021
  • Cost: $117.04

There are many internet discussions and opinions about selecting or changing the name of a ship.  Some folks expend great effort and time in determining the boat name that will satisfy them and their ego, reflect some level of belief, idea, or identity. Some select a name on a preconceived idea of marketing the boat name selected to promote themselves on social media with monetary end goals in mind - from reviewing boating websites this appears to be an increasing popular strategy.

The boat we purchased already had previous names Circe, Cinnamon Rose, and Modesty Blaise as identified on our History of Ownership and Vessel Names website page, with the current name now being Indra.  We do not know the reason the previous owners selected the name Indra; we had never heard of this name Indra before, but it sounded interesting.  A little research on the name Indra revealed it was of Hinduism or Buddhism origin; and was the name of a supreme god in their religion that was recognized for the power of thunder and lighting, and championing righteousness.  In the language Sanskrit, the word Indra means “possessing drops of rain”.  We decided not to change the name. We will likely change the name Indra at some point in the future.

We selected our Homeport based on our US legal resident address, Green Cove Springs, Florida. We had previously changed legal residence from California to Florida for a multitude of reasons, but principally to end paying excessive state taxes. Our mail consolidator and forwarder, St. Brendan’s Isle is also located at the same address in Green Cove Springs, Florida.  Through their service we have a legal resident and mailing address.  We have Florida driver licenses, identification cards, and are registered to vote in Florida based on our legal resident address.  Check out their services on the internet - it appears many "non-stationary" people subscribe to the service for the same reasons we do.

The USCG requirement was: Ships name and hailing port clearly marked together on the hull (usually stern), minimum lettering 4 inches in height [46CFR 67.123]. We also decided to place the name Indra on both sides of the bow due to it being a standard practice in many foreign countries for both commercial and personal boats.

After a little research on the internet, we selected Do It Yourself Lettering, Inc. to obtain stencils from. Their website allows you to design your stencils online in a relatively easy manner.  We ordered two each of the stencils depicted below (Algerian font) since Indra has a canoe stern which entails placing the name and homeport on both the stern port and starboard sides. We placed a order for this on 14 April 2015 and had it delivered to our Florida address. Cost was $117.04 with free shipping. We had it shipped from Florida to Naga City, Cebu, Philippines by our mail forwarding service, St. Brendan’s Isle on 29 May 2015 and received it on 11 June 2015. Next step is to finish the hull painting before these can be applied.

 

This work item was no longer require as we decided to rename our boat DOVE - see post here.

USCG Certificate of Documentation Rejection Notice

USCG Certificate of Documentation Rejection Notice

May 29, 2015

  • Action: To Do List item A0002 – Apply for USCG Certificate of Documentation.
  • Completed:  In Progress
  • Cost: $293.00

 

On 29 May 2015 received notice from the USCG NVDC that Indra's COD application was rejected. At issue was they stated the Bill of Sale provided was "not eligible for recording" as it was not notarized.  They also wanted additional paperwork, USCG Form CG-5397 Application for Simplified Measurement, filled out.  As the package included a copy of USCG CG-1340 Bill of Sale we assumed they preferred this style of bill of sale, even though the AMSA Form 159 Bill of Sale submitted was 100% correct and legally recorded in Australia. The AMSA Form 159 Bill of Sale was not notarized but cosigned by a witness according to Australian requirements.

      Sent the following email to Margie Jesson requesting a notarized Bill of Sale.

      From: Joseph D. Abbott <joedabbott@svrainbow.com>
      To: margie_jesson@yahoo.com.au
      Sent: Friday, 29 May 2015, 11:09
      Subject: USCG Registration of Indra

      Hi Margie,

      Hope all is well with you.  I submitted the paperwork on Indra from you and Peter Baker using the pdf scan files received and as suspected, the USCG rejected the bill of sale due to lack of a notary – see attached letter for info.

      Could you please print out both attachments, the previous Australian Bill of Sale and the new USCG Bill of Sale (need to sign front and back side) and sign and have them notarized by a means acceptable in New Zealand.  After they are signed could you scan them into a pdf file and send via email and then post via mail to our Philippine address.

      Note: the scan pdf copy is important since I have yet to receive your original bill of sale or Peter Baker’s certificate of deletion through the Philippine mail system – no surprise with this.

      Wishing you the best, thanks,

      Joe and Marilyn Abbott

       

      USCG Certificate of Documentation

      USCG Certificate of Documentation

      Apr 10, 2015

      • Action: To Do List item A0002 – Apply for USCG Certificate of Documentation.
      • Completed: In Progress
      • Cost: $293.00

       

      On 9 April 2015 we submitted the paperwork electronically by PDF file for USCG Certificate of Documentation to the USCG National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). This paper work consisted of USCG Form CG-1258 Application For Initial Issue, Exchange, Or Replacement Of Certificate Of Documentation; Redocumentation; the Australian broker Bill of Sale; the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Form 159, Bill of Sale signed by the previous owner and a witness; the Australian Registration Certificate; and the Australian Certificate of Deletion with official copy of the registry from the Australian Registrar. Also submitted USCG CG-7042 Credit Card Form and authorized payment of $293.00 for this transaction.

      Shortly after its submission we received a email confirming its receipt.

      From: VdsDoNotReply@uscg.mil
      Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2015 3:41 PM
      To: joedabbott@svrainbow.com
      Subject: National Vessel Documentation Center - Submission Received

      Your submission to the National Vessel Documentation Center with the subject of:

      "INDRA COD 600692 - Return to Documentation"

      Was received at: 4/9/2015 3:40:21 AM Eastern and contained 15 attached pages.

       

      Australian Certificate of Deletion

      Australian Certificate of Deletion

      Apr 9, 2015

       

      • Action: To Do List item A0001 - Obtain Australian Certificate of Deletion.
      • Completed: 9 April 2015
      • Cost: $65.57

       

      The Broker’s Bill of Sale from Kim Brewer of Tasmania Boat Sales, Tasmania, Australia would not fulfill the USCG requirement for a notarized Bill of Sale, so sent the following email.

       

      From: Joseph D. Abbott
      To: 'Kim Brewer' ; 'Margie Jesson'
      Sent: Wednesday, 18 March 2015, 17:06
      Subject: RE: Indra - Bill of sale

      Hi Kim and Margie,

      For USCG registration need a bill of sale signed and notarized by the owner.

      USCG Requirement:

      CG-1340 Bill of Sale: Submit one original OR one copy of the Bill of Sale, signed by or on behalf of all persons, transferring an interest in the vessel; OR one original OR one copy of Form 1340 signed by or behalf of all persons transferring an interest in the vessel. Signature(s) of seller(s) must be acknowledged by a notary public. Altered Bills of Sale may be rejected. A copy of the Bill of Sale or related instrument will be returned.

      Since the USCG form CG-1340 is not mandatory for a foreign sale, looked up on AMSA website, downloaded and filled in form AMSA159 which is attached.  Believe you can have a notary sign/stamp as the witness.  Believe this will also be needed to meet requirements identified below on this website: http://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels/shipping-registration/australian-general-register/transferring-ownership/index.asp

      Australian Requirement:

      Sale to a foreigner

      If the sale results in the ship no longer being entitled to be Australian-registered, the seller must forward to the Registrar of Ships, within 14 days of the execution of the Bill of Sale:

      1. A written notice of the details of the sale;
      2. A copy of the Bill of Sale; and
      3. The original Registration Certificate

      After the above is filed, then I need a copy of evidence of deletion.  I did not find a form for this type of data request, so I am not quite sure how to obtain this yet? Will probably email SRO a question on this.

      USCG Requirement:

      Chain of Title Simplified Method*: For vessels returning to documentation, ownership may be established from state title OR state or foreign registration. A copy of the title or registration must be provided WITH the original or copy of bill(s) of sale from the owner shown on this paperwork to the applicant. For vessels under a foreign registry similar to U.S. Documentation, a copy of the registration and evidence of removal from that registry must be provided.

       Also since the EPIRB was registered under your name you might want to also submit form AMSA245 (example filled in and attached) to website:  http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/registration/index.asp#rego  Also you might be able to do this entirely online at that website.

      Believe most of this paperwork can be submitted using email and pdf files.  When I requested abstract of title and registration on Indra from the Australian Shipping Registration Office (SRO), I filled out the forms and submitted via email at sro@amsa.gov.au and had report back within two hours.

      Thanks, Joe

       

      After a series of emails, between the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Ships Registrar Office (SRO),  Margaret Jesson, and myself, it appeared the requirements to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain a Australian Certificate of Deletion were known to all. The original Australian Registration papers for Indra needed to be removed from onboard Indra in the Philippines and sent to Margaret Jesson in New Zealand, which delayed the process.

       

      On 22 March 2015, Margaret Jesson located in New Zealand, signed the AMSA Form 159, Bill of Sale, and forwarded it with additional paperwork to the AMSA Shipping Registration Office. The AMSA Form 159 Bill of Sale was "witnessed" and not notarized as had been requested - this would be a major complication for USCG registration.

      On 6 April 2015, we submitted AMSA Form 114 to the AMSA Shipping Registration Office, requesting a Certificate of Deletion and authorizing payment of AUD $85.00 (US $65.57) for it.

      On 9 April 2015, the AMSA Shipping Registration Office notified us by email that deletion from the Australian Register was complete and had attached a PDF file of the deletion - paper copy was also sent by postal mail.

      Indra – Bill of Sale

      Indra – Bill of Sale

      Mar 19, 2015

      On 12 March 2015 received email from Kim Brewer:

      • I have had instruction from Margie to accept your unconditional offer of US $45000. An agreement for Sale contract to that effect is attached with a copy of the inventory. Margie informs me that the Sailrite machine and the dive gear is no longer aboard. Both had been found to be inoperable (probably due to a long period without use). Margie is however leaving all the rest of the gear aboard as you inspected, including all the bedding, pots and pans, utensils etc none of which were included on the advertised inventory. She will not be returning to the boat at all.
      • I would be grateful if you could sign and return this Agreement to me and I will then forward it to Margie for her signature.

       

      On 13 March 2015 received signed Standard Purchase Agreement.

      On 14 March 2015 Margie paid Holiday Oceanview Marina Indra's final berthage bill of PHL 56,000.00 pesos.

      On 16 March 2015 wire transferred US $30,000.oo to Margie's ANZ Bank New Zealand account.

      On 17 March 2015 wire transferred US $15,000.oo to Margie's ANZ Bank New Zealand account. This is payment in full for Indra.

       On 18 March 2015 received Broker's Bill of Sale from Kim Brewer:

      Now begins the paperwork process of deleting Indra from the Australian Registrar and establishing USCG documentation.

       

      Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

      Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

      Mar 17, 2015

       

      • Action: To Do List item A0003 - Apply for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ships Radio Station Authorization and Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit.
      • Completed:  17 March 2015
      • Cost:  $215.00

       

      One of the requirements of boat ownership is obtaining the proper licenses for radio operation.  Indra was equipped with a Very High Frequency (VHF) and Single-Side-Band (SSB) radio, and located in the Philippines.  This necessitated a federal license to be incompliance with both US and foreign entities regulations.  Additionally, we planned on adding an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder since its use is mandatory in some foreign waters, so we also needed a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number.  A quick check on the internet revealed the federal organization for this was the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  The process is relatively easy by following the instructions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Licensing System website.  Prior to applying you need to know or have two important items.  The first is a stable and permanent address and second a USCG Certificate of Documentation (COD) number for your boat.  We had previously established residence in Florida and had a permanent legal and mailing address through a very reputable and outstanding mail forwarding service called St. Brendan's Isle.  We had not completed USCG registration of Indra, but since she was previously registered and deleted from the USCG register, we knew the USCG COD number would be 600692.

       

      First you register to obtain a FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password.  After this you log in, fill out an online electronic form, and make a online electronic payment.  The total payment for this, on March 15, 2015, was $215.00.  After two days, all was approved, and we received an email that the official versions of our electronic licenses were available for download at their website.  A paper copy was also sent through the mail system.  The FCC radio station authorization identified our radio call sign for Indra as WDH8795 and our MMSI number as 367661540.  This paper was placed in a protective plastic cover and filed in our master ships logbook.  Additionally, the license expiration date of 03-17-2025 was added to our master tracking list of Due Dates.

       

      In addition to the FCC radio station authorization, you also get a FCC restricted radiotelephone operator permit.  This too was placed in a protective plastic cover and filed in our master ships logbook.