Name Approval
The Application for Registration also allows the owner to specify a preferred name for the ship and any alternatives should the preferred choice be unavailable. It is also possible to check on name availability before submitting the application and to reserve preferred names. This can be done by contacting the registrar at registry.marine@gov.im.
A proposed name may be refused if:
- It is already the name of a Manx registered ship
- It is a name so similar as to be calculated to deceive
- It is likely to be confused with a distress signal
- It is prefixed by any letters or name which could be taken to indicate a type of ship (e.g. HMS, RLNB etc)
- It is likely to cause offence or embarrassment
- It has a clear and direct connection with the Royal Family and permission from the Royal Family has not been granted for its use.
Once the application is made the registrar will issue a “Carving and Marking Note” This is a simple document that sets out the ships official name, to be permanently marked on the hull, her official port of registry and her official number, which is to be permanently marked on the stern and on an interior main beam. Since the beginning of 2003 the official number will be the same as the ship’s IMO number for merchant vessels which must be marked internally and externally in accordance with the 2002 amendments to SOLAS.
For vessels over 24m in length once the ship is marked with name, port of registry and IMO number the markings need to be verified by either an Isle of Man surveyor, if present at the ship at the time, or by a Classification Society surveyor. The verifying surveyor signs the note and it can then be returned to the registrar.
