The Isle of Man Ship Registry has just celebrated its 30th anniversary by highlighting its status as a leading maritime centre of excellence. It currently stands at number 14 in the world table of registers by tonnage, with Gross Registered Tonnage having more than doubled over the past 10 years and the number of vessels on the register increasing by more than a third over the same period.
Alan Crowe MLC, the Department of Economic Development’s Political Member with responsibility for the Ship Registry said:
‘I am immensely proud of what the Ship Registry has achieved in its 30 years of operation. The maritime sector has become very important to the Isle of Man and now employs around 600 people. The Registry provides the hub for maritime-related activities by a large number of firms in the Island, which delivers real economic benefit to our economy.
‘The Registry team puts a lot of effort into delivering a world class service for their global clients, which attracts owners of high quality ships and superyachts to register their vessels here.
Dick Welsh, Director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry said:
‘The success of the register is due to its people. We have a very dedicated team of professionals who constantly go the extra mile to assist ship owners and help them to keep their vessels operating safely and efficiently in a global commercial environment.
‘This may involve registration in the middle of the night to suit shipyard delivery times in the Far East or access to our dedicated emergency response service which is available 24/7.
‘The relationship we build with our owners and operators is paramount to our continued success and it is this commitment to customer service which sets us apart.
‘I would like to echo Mr Crowe’s comments and thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication over the years.’
The Manx fleet now comprises all types of modern merchant ships and superyachts from owners based all over the world; more than 40% of the tonnage on the Isle of Man register is now managed or controlled from Asia.
The Ship Registry has acted as the hub for the development of the Isle of Man as a maritime centre of excellence. The cluster is represented by the Isle of Man Shipping Association and the Isle of Man Superyacht Forum, which work very closely with the Registry and the Department to ensure the Island continues to be a preferred location for maritime business.
This will be very evident during September’s Monaco Yacht Show where the Ship Registry, Department of Economic Development and the private sector will all participate on an Isle of Man stand.
