Changing the Name of a Boat in Canada Process

The name of your boat is not only the term by which you might refer to it among your family, friends, or colleagues. It is the name under which the vessel itself will be registered with the relevant government agencies. That is why, if you are planning on changing the name of a boat then you are going to need to go through the process of changing it officially through the vessel registry. There are different ways in which you can update your Transport Canada vessel registration, but if you are specifically changing the name then you will have to use the specific change of vessel name form, which you can find under the registry form tab here on our website.

Changing the Name of a Boat
There are different circumstances in which you might be changing the name of a boat. It might have been named after someone you no longer wish to think about or it could be that you wish you name it after someone in their honor. In fact, you don’t need to have a reason. You can change the name of your boat whenever you feel like it. It’s yours, after all. The process to apply for a name change is fairly easy, but it will require some paperwork. As with any bureaucratic process, however, it can quickly get complicated if you don’t know what you’re doing, which is why we have a quick guide here for your convenience.

Boat Name Requirements
Now, when it comes to boat name requirements, there aren’t a lot. You are practically free to name your boat whatever you want as long, of course, as it is unique. That is why when you first registered your boat, they asked you to provide three different options for the boat name in case one of them is already taken. When the time comes to change the name, it’s always good to consult with the database to make sure that you are changing the name of a boat to one that isn’t already taken. You can do so by visiting the Transport Canada database and checking it before applying.

Submit the Form
Now that you know that the name you are choosing is unique and hasn’t been taken yet, all you need to do is submit the necessary form. All you need to do is head over to the registry tab on our menu and select the change of vessel name, which can also be used to change the hailing port if you need to do that as well. You can submit it through our platform for us to make sure that everything is good to go before it’s submitted to Transport Canada.

All Your Boat Documentation Needs
We’ve outlined everything you need when changing the name of a boat, but you still have to submit the application and here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp, we can provide you with all the necessary forms for you to do so. And, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling +1 (800) 419-9569 or email us at info@canadianvesselregistry.ca.