CGMIX - Vessel Information System

Per Congressional legislation, the U.S. Coast Guard was given the task to develop and maintain a Vessel Identification System (VIS) in order to share state vessel registration and federal vessel documentation information with local, state and federal law enforcement officials and state vessel registration and titling authorities. The primary purpose of this system is to serve as a centralized source of vessel registration and ownership information from participating States and the USCG National Vessel Documentation Center that can be accessed for search and rescue and various law enforcement purposes ranging from homeland security to serving as a means to help deter vessel theft, particularly where vessels are crossing state lines.