I wanted to share some recent vessels that we have had customers bring in to receive an inspection and a State Assigned Hull Identification Number. The company is called Gospel Boat, a larger aluminum boat manufacturer, located in QingDao, China. The company is clearly advertising in the US market via their website (Enjoy Unforgettable Journeys with Passenger Boat-Gospel Boat) and are selling direct to consumers without having an importer. A recent purchaser of one of these vessels tried to get our state to issue his vessel a state assigned HIN, yet it was clear that he did not self-import but rather the company handled all the shipping and importation on his behalf without meeting any US standards or using a US importer to provide a proper HIN with a MIC. Once he was denied the state HIN, the company recommended he get the vessel document via the US Coast Guard Documentation Center and then the state could not deny registration. The CG-BSX-23 Product Assurance Branch has been made aware of this matter, but I wanted to share for state investigators and registration office awareness as well.
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Cody Jones
Boating Law Administrator
Asst. Commander Game Warden
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
512-389-4624 Office
512-431-1326 cell
cody.jones@tpwd.texas.govTexas Game Wardens Serving Texans since 1895 - Law Enforcement off the Pavement
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