Benefits
Cut data entry time on vessel certificate processing from minutes to seconds
Eliminate manual keying errors across owner names, hull numbers, and tonnage figures
Accelerate registration and renewal workflows with turnaround measured in seconds, not days
Scale document processing without adding headcount during peak boating seasons
How it works
- Step 1
Upload
Send the document to the API as a file or a URL no special formatting required.
- Step 2
The engine reads the document
The engine analyzes the page layout and identifies the content that matters. ByteIt's extraction engine reads the layout of USCG Certificate of Documentation forms, detecting labelled fields such as certificate number, official number, vessel name, hailing port, HIN, owner details, tonnage, dimensions, propulsion type, endorsements, and issuing authority from both digital PDFs and scanned images.
- Step 3
Structured JSON is returned
Every extracted element comes back as structured JSON, positioned and typed, ready to feed into downstream systems.
- Step 4
Confidence-based review
Each field carries a confidence score, so low-confidence results can be routed for human review instead of trusted blindly.
Extractable fields
Features
Reads both digital PDFs and scanned images of USCG-issued Certificates of Documentation
Extracts certificate number, official number, vessel name, hailing port, hull identification number (HIN), owner name and address, managing owner, and endorsements
Captures technical vessel data including gross tonnage, net tonnage, length, breadth, depth, and propulsion type
Outputs structured JSON with per-field extraction for direct integration into vessel management or compliance systems
Use cases
Marine Vessel Registration & Renewal
A marina operator or vessel registry receives hundreds of COD renewals each month. Instead of clerks manually typing vessel and owner data into a registration database, ByteIt extracts the certificate number, expiration date, owner name, and vessel details in seconds. The structured output can be forwarded directly into a registry management system, reducing processing time per certificate from minutes to a few seconds.
Lien & Title Search Automation
Financial institutions and marine insurers need to verify vessel ownership and outstanding liens before underwriting or financing. ByteIt extracts owner name, official number, HIN, and endorsements from each COD, enabling automated cross-checks against title databases without manual document review.
Compliance & Coast Guard Audit Preparation
Fleet operators and commercial vessel owners must maintain current certificates for every vessel in service. ByteIt extracts issue and expiration dates, vessel type, and endorsements from CODs across the fleet, feeding a compliance dashboard that flags upcoming renewals and expired documents before they become audit findings.
Vessel Inventory & Asset Management
Companies managing multiple vessels for charter, transport, or logistics need a centralised inventory of vessel specifications. ByteIt extracts the full set of technical fields such as gross tonnage, length, breadth, depth, and propulsion type from each COD, populating an asset register that can be queried by capacity, size, or vessel type.
Downstream System Integration
Extracted COD data can be connected to your marina management software, fleet ERP, or compliance tracking platform using workflow automation tools like n8n, Zapier, or Make, eliminating manual data re-entry between systems.
LIVE DEMO
Try it yourself
Upload a sample Certificate of Documentation or your own file, supports PDF, JPG, and PNG formats, and see the extracted fields appear instantly.
Select a document and press Parse
Want to run it on your own documents?
Ready to dive in? Request a key to get started.Business advantages
- No training required: works out of the box with USCG COD forms
- Handles low-quality scans and photocopies of worn certificates
- Returns structured data in seconds, not minutes
- Pay-as-you-go API pricing with no minimum commitment
Frequently asked questions
What file formats do you support for Certificates of Documentation?
ByteIt accepts PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, DOC, DOCX, and XLSX. You can upload documents directly through the dashboard or send them via the API.
Can the engine handle low-quality scans or faded certificates?
Yes. The extraction engine includes adaptive contrast and de-skew preprocessing to read worn or poorly scanned CODs, including photocopies and documents with creases or stains.
How do I integrate ByteIt into my vessel management system?
ByteIt provides a REST API that returns structured JSON. You can connect the output to your registry, ERP, or compliance platform either via direct API calls or through no-code workflow tools such as n8n, Zapier, and Make.
Does the API support multi-page Certificates of Documentation?
Yes. ByteIt processes multi-page documents and extracts fields from all pages, consolidating the results into a single structured JSON output.
How is ByteIt priced?
ByteIt offers a usage-based pricing model with no upfront commitment. You pay per document processed. Check the pricing page on byteit.ai for current rates and credit pack options.
What languages does the extraction support for COD fields?
USCG Certificates of Documentation are issued in English. ByteIt's OCR engine is trained on English-language forms and extracts English text fields reliably. For other languages, contact us to discuss custom training.
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