Vessel Documentation Act

Vessel Documentation Act - Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to designate ports of documentation in the United States where vessels may be documented.

Describes the vessels which shall be eligible for documentation. States that eligibility shall be based upon weight (minimum of five tons) and ownership by a citizen of the United States, or the Government of the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe the form of filing, the manner of filing, and the information to be contained in applications for certificates of documentation. Requires the Secretary to maintain a numbering system for the identification of documented vessels.

Provides that a certificate of documentation issued under this Act is: (1) conclusive evidence of nationality for international purposes, but not in any proceeding conducted under the laws of the United States; (2) evidence of qualification to be employed in a specified trade; and (3) not conclusive evidence of ownership in any proceeding in which ownership is in issue.

Authorizes the issuance of a registry for any vessel which is eligible for documentation. Lists the privileges incident to the issuance of a registry, including authority to be employed in foreign trade.

Allows the issuance of a coastwise license or an appropriately endorsed registry for any vessel which: (1) is eligible for documentation; (2) was built in the United States; and (3) qualifies under laws of the United States to be employed in the coastwise trade. Provides that vessels receiving such a license may be employed in coastwise trade and the fisheries.

Establishes similar requirements for the issuance of a Great Lakes license and a fishery license.

Prohibits the employment of a documented vessel in any trade other than a trade covered by the certificate of documentation.

Provides that whenever the owner of a vessel knowingly falsifies or conceals a material fact, or makes a false representation in connection with the documentation of his vessel under this Act, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, that vessel, together with its equipment, is liable to seizure by, and forfeiture to, the United States.

Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of State to provide for the issuance of a provisional registry for any vessel procured outside the United States which meets the ownership requirements of this Act.

Imposes a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation of this Act to be assessed and collected by the Secretary.