Earlier posts are correct - it's not a scam, it's just a misleading and overpriced private business. Here's the explanation I got from them:
"[...] Vessel Documentation Online (VDO) is one of many on-line private fee-for-service vessel document
registration firms that works directly with the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). VDO provides vessel(boat) documentation
registration services to its customers. These services are requested by the customer via our online website or by
phone when calling one of our representatives. Customers enter our website and select the type of vessel registration service needed for their case. They enter all pertinent information, agree to our Terms and Conditions, agree, and authorize payment amount, enter their payment information, and submit their service request. Immediately the customer is sent a confirmation
email, and a documentation agent is assigned to their case. The processing of services commenced and rendered. Depending on the vessel registration service requested, customers
may receive their vessel documentation via
email or by U.S. postal service. VDO provides ample
notification before the customer inputs its payment information that it is a private company and that it is not affiliated with any
government entity.
Please see below for a few disclosures throughout our website:
Copyright 2024 Vessel Documentation Online | All Rights Reserved. Vessel Documentation Online is NOT the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Vessel Documentation Center; we are a third party private agency that handles USCG Documentation processing to NVDC.
Vessel Documentation Online, a private fee for service documentation company, not owned or operated by any governmental agency.
This is not a
government sponsored website, but is a private fee-for-service company assisting private vessel owners in seeking registrations, renewals, and other documentation requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center [...]"