The Registration Process

Each Flag State has developed its own procedures and requirements for registration. Upon identifying the flag, you should liaise with the Flag State Administration to know its requirements for flag entry. Some Flag States have appointed agents, who can assist with registering your vessel.

The registration process includes:

  • Selecting the Flag State (decided by the top management of the company)
  • Fulfilling the eligibility criteria of the Flag State – eg citizenship, ownership, gross tonnage, age of vessel
  • Obtaining the application form from the administration
  • Submitting the application form with relevant documents – eg Declaration of owner, Tonnage Certificate and Class Certificate
  • Paying tonnage fees and registration fees
  • Obtaining vessel’s Name Approval, Call Sign and Official Number
  • Obtaining (a provisional or) a Certificate of Registry
  • Coordinating Condition Survey and Statutory Survey
  • Carving and marking the vessel as per the Carving and Marking note
  • Obtaining Statutory Certificates, Radio Station License, Safe Manning Document, Continuous Synopsis Record, Civil Liability Certificates and relevant endorsements
  • In case of a foreign officer obtaining a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) corresponding to the Certificate of Competency
  • Coordinating during Ship Security Plan (SSP) verification and obtaining an International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)
  • Obtaining an updated Continuous Synopsis Record form the Flag State.

The Images below gives you a detailed explanation of the various requirements for registration.

Change of Flag Report (PDF, 146 kb) is a sample report sent by the Master of a vessel to the shipping company after successful completion of change of flag.

International Association of Classification Societies procedural requirement No.28, which is guidance to its member societies, can be referred to for the statutory survey requirements during change of flag. This procedure is applicable only if the Flag State has authorized the Classification Society to carry out surveys and certification on its behalf.

As examples, registration procedure under the Malta, United Kingdom and Hong Kong flags are shown in the following documents.

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