Code of Federal Regulations Title 46. Shipping § 46.67.149 Exchange of Certificate of Documentation;  vessel at sea

(a) When exchange of a Certificate of Documentation issued to a vessel is required pursuant to subpart L of this part and the vessel is at sea, the owner may affect the exchange while the vessel is still at sea by:

(b) The documentation officer prepares a new Certificate of Documentation and forwards it for delivery to the vessel's next port of call. If the port of call is in the United States, the Certificate is forwarded to the nearest U.S. Coast Guard Sector Office. If the port of call is in a foreign country, the Certificate is forwarded to the nearest American Consulate. The new Certificate is delivered only upon surrender of the old Certificate, which is then forwarded to the National Vessel Documentation Center.