Question 65 ONC02 - Second Mate/Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage

The Correct Answer is C **Explanation for C (Coast Guard):** The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), through its National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), is the official federal agency responsible for issuing Certificate of Documentation (COD) to eligible vessels. This documentation process assigns the vessel its official number (sometimes referred to as the official vessel documentation number), which is required for vessels involved in certain activities like commercial fishing or coastwise trade, and often used for large recreational vessels. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **A) Collector of Customs:** Historically, the Bureau of Customs (later U.S. Customs Service) handled vessel documentation. However, these duties were transferred to the Coast Guard. The Collector of Customs no longer assigns official vessel numbers. * **B) Treasury Department:** While the USCG was historically housed within the Treasury Department, it has operated under various departments (most recently the Department of Homeland Security since 2003). The Treasury Department itself does not directly handle vessel numbering or documentation. * **D) American Bureau of Shipping (ABS):** ABS is a non-governmental classification society that sets standards for vessel design and construction, conducts surveys, and issues classification certificates. It assigns classification numbers or IMO numbers to ships, but it does not assign the official U.S. federal vessel documentation number.