HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources' (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), in cooperation with ehawaii.gov, has launched a new online service for owners of boats and other vessels registered in the state of Hawai'i. Vessel owners can now renew their registration, purchase ramp use decals, and order replacement registration cards on-line at www.vessel.ehawaii.gov/vessel/ <www.vessel.ehawaii.gov/vessel/> .

"The state's online vessel registration system is expected to make renewals easier and much more convenient for Hawai'i vessel owners," Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson, said in a news release.

"Technology now allows boat owners to perform certain transactions and update their data around the clock from anywhere in the world through a simple and secure process available on the Internet," said Thielen. "This online service should be especially useful for out-of-state vessel owners, people traveling abroad, and even for those who are just unable to get to a harbor office because of a busy schedule.

"Going online also provides federal, state and county law enforcement agencies real-time access to vessel information that will help ensure public safety. Accurate, up-to-the-minute information about boats and other vessels has become critical to maintaining security in our near-shore waters since 9-11," added Thielen.

At the completion of the on-line renewal process, a temporary registration card and a receipt can be printed for record keeping while the vessel owner waits for the actual registration card or ramp use decal to arrive within two to three business days.

Transfers of vessel ownership and first-time vessel registration will still need to be done over the counter at DOBOR offices because proofs of ownership, bills of sale and other key documents will have to be inspected and duplicated by DOBOR staff for filing.

All motorized vessels, unless documented with the U.S. Coast Guard must be registered with the State of Hawai'i to operate in state waters.

This new on-line service is part of a continuing effort by the Lingle-Aiona Administration to bring more government services on-line. It will also be featured on the DOBOR web site at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/ <www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dbor/> .

The On-line Vessel Registration Renewal application was created through a partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and the state's Internet Portal Manager, Hawai'i Information Consortium. The service is one of many online services for citizens and business offered through the state's official Web site, eHawaii.gov (www.ehawaii.gov).

DOBOR operates and manages 21 harbors, 50 ramps, 2,122 moorings and berths and 19 piers across the state. The division works in close partnership with DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard to make near-shore waters safe. The division is also responsible for registering all vessels in Hawai'i which are not documented by the U.S. Coast Guard and for regulating and permitting surf meets, canoe and yachting regattas, ocean swimming events and other ocean events with the concurrence of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Hawai'i Information Consortium (HIC) is a Hawai'i corporation that manages the official state Web portal, www.ehawaii.gov. HIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV). HIC works with state agencies to enable them to conduct state business online and improve public access to government information.