Puget Sound is an estuary in the northwestern coast of Washington State, with approximately 2,500 miles of saltwater shoreline.  A part of the Salish Sea, Puget Sound extends approximately 100 miles from the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Vancouver Island and Washington in the North to the city of Olympia in the South.  It has a maximum d...

For nonresident individuals who own vessels for use in Washington State, here’s a piece of good news: Washington’s sales and use tax and registration provisions include a one-year exemption for vessels 30 feet or longer owned by nonresident individuals.   For vessels purchased in Washington, the use permit must be purchased f...

Generally, the “coastwise trade” laws prohibit the transportation of passengers or merchandise between points in the United States in any vessel other than one:

• built in the U.S.;
• documented with the U.S. Coast Guard; and
• owned by persons who are U.S. ci...