Registry: Procedure (Merchant Ships and Commercial Yachts)

Documentary Procedures

For a ship which is either newly constructed or which is transferring from another flag the procedure is simple and if assistance is required the registry staff will be pleased to provide it.

The owner or his representative should:

• Apply in writing on Form REG 1 to the Registrar of Ships. This form also allows the owner to specify his preferred name for the ship and any alternatives should his preferred choice be unavailable. It is also possible to check on name availability before making application and to reserve preferred names. This can be done by telephoning the registrar. There are four ports of registry in the Isle of Man and ships may be registered in any one of the four at the owners preference. The options are:
  • Castletown
  • Douglas
  • Peel
  • Ramsey
• Provide a Certificate of Survey to accompany the REG 1 form. This document is issued by the ship’s Classification Society and is a simple form which sets out the basic identifying parameters of the ship which will be included in the registry details. The Isle of Man surveyor who attends the ship for pre-registry survey and inspection can also complete this form.
• When the vessel is owned by a company, provide a copy of the Company Certificate of Incorporation and a copy of Form REG 3 appointing the authorised officers for the Company to accompany the REG 1 Form.
• When the vessel is owned by a Limited partnership, provide a copy of REG14, providing details of the partnership and proof of incorporation, to accompany the REG 1 form.
• Provide a Declaration of Ownership on Form;
  • REG4 for a body corporate,
  • REG5 in the case of an individual,
• Prior to registry, produce evidence of title of ownership. This can be in two forms.
  • If the ship has not been previously registered (i.e. a newly built ship), or if she has never changed hands it should be in the form of a Builders Certificate.
  • If the ship has been previously registered, or if she has been owned by a previous owner it should be in the form of an original bill of sale from the last owner to the applicant.
• When the vessel is registered under another flag, produce a Deletion Certificate or Closed Transcript from the other registry before final registry in the Isle of Man.
• Appoint an Isle of Man approved ship manager or establish his own office in the Isle of Man having responsibility for the ship. Confirmation of the appointed manager is made on REG6.
  • For Merchant Ships see Ship Managers and Owners with Offices in the Isle of Man
  • For Commercial Yachts see Representative Persons for Manx Registered Commercial Yachts
• Make arrangements with the Ship Registry for a surveyor to inspect the ship prior to acceptance for registration to ascertain that the ship complies with International Convention in respect of safety, prevention of oil pollution and manning. In addition, the surveyor will conduct any survey as appropriate for the issue of International Convention Certificates.
• Make arrangements with the Ship Radio Licensing Section for the issue of a Radio Call sign and MMSI No. The MMSI Number and Call Sign will need to be advised to the registrar before final registry.

Procedures to be undertaken on the ship

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 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 which must be marked internally and externally by the 2002 amendments to SOLAS.

Once the ships 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.

Please note:

1. Any documents executed outside the United Kingdom must be notarised.
2. There are no renewal requirements for the Part 1 Register. Once the ship is registered in the Isle of Man that registry is permanent until the owner chooses to register elsewhere, or the ship is deleted from the register.