Requirements to Register on UK Ship Register
To register a vessel on the UK Ship Register you must meet the eligibility criteria of the part for which you are applying.
Part 1 and Part 4
The following persons are qualified to be the owners of ships to be registered on Part 1 the Register:
* UK citizen
* British dependant territories citizen
* British overseas citizen
* company incorporated in one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries
* citizen of a EU member state exercising your rights under articles 48 or 52 of the EU Treaty in the UK
* company incorporated in any British overseas possession which has its principal place of business in the UK or those possessions
* company in an European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG)
* Commonwealth citizens
* citizens listed in Schedule 6 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/509/contents/made)
* non-United Kingdom nationals who are settled in the United Kingdom
* bodies corporate incorporated in a Commonwealth state
* bodies corporate incorporated in a country listed in Schedule 6 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/509/contents/made)
If none of the qualified owners are resident in the UK, a representative must be appointed who is either of the following:
* an individual resident in the UK
* a company incorporated in one of the EEA countries with a place of business in the UK
Part 2
For vessels to be registered on Part 2, all the owners listed must be qualified owners.
A vessel can be registered on Part II if the legal and beneficial owners are:
a) British citizens or non-United Kingdom nationals exercising their right of freedom of movement of workers or right of establishment under Article 48 or 52 of the EEC Treaty or Article 28 or 31 of the EEA Agreement;
b) Bodies corporate incorporated in an EEA State with a place of business in the UK;
c) European Economic Interest Groupings formed under Article 1 of Council regulation (EEC) No. 2137/85 and registered in the UK;
d) A local authority in the UK.
Part 3
For vessels to be registered on Part 3, all the owners listed must be qualified owners.
A small ship may be registered if all of the owners are ordinarily resident in the UK:-
(a) British Citizens
(b) Persons who are nationals of a European Union or Economic Area country other than the United Kingdom and are established* in the UK
(c) British Dependant Territories citizens; British Overseas citizens; persons who under the British Nationality Act 1981 and are British subjects; persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order are British Nationals (Overseas), and (d) Commonwealth citizens not falling within those paragraphs.
*Established – It is not sufficient to live in the UK to be ‘established’ in accordance with Articles 48 and 52 of the EU Treaty. To be ‘established’ a person must make an economic contribution to the UK by being the proprietor of a business, being employed, or having very recently retired from such employment, i.e. within the last 6 months. If you have any doubts about your ‘establishment’ you should consult the Registry.
Wondering whether you are eligible to register your vessels under the UK Flag?