Registration of ships in the BVI.

We can certainly register vessels here in the BVI.  There are a variety of forms to complete and a measurement survey of the vessel is required, although the survey procedure is simplified for vessels under 45 feet in length.  We can send all of the forms and assist you through the entire procedure. 

The fees are typically about EUR 2500. For the vessel registration, plus any courier charges, plus the cost of the survey, which you would arrange directly.  The annual fee maintenance of the Register is EUR300.

In order for a ship to be registered in the BVI, it must be owned by a British citizen.  This can be either a natural person who is a British or British Dependent Territory citizen, or it can be a Company domiciled in Britain or a British Territory. 

A BVI Business Company(BC) qualifies as a British citizen and is well suited to the task.  There are no corporate taxes and no annual paperwork submission requirements for IBCs.  There is only a small fixed fee to the BVI government and a fixed fee to the Registered Agent of the Company in relation to its provision of the required Registered Office.  We can form a company for you for as little as 1200 EUR.  Annual maintenance fees on the company in the years thereafter would be 800 EUR. The information that we will send will include details on the formation of the Company.

Assuming you are not personally a British or British Dependent Territory citizen, at some time before the actual application to register the boat, you will need to transfer title of the vessel from yourself to the BVI Company.  This can be done through a simple Bill of Sale, which we can provide to you in blank.  If you have not yet taken title to the vessel, the seller or builder, as the case may be, can sell it directly to the BVI Company.

It is wise to allow as much time as possible for the registration process.  Like many things, it often takes longer than anticipated.  In addition, the final registration is not complete until the Carving and Marking note is completed, although provisional registration is possible in advance of formal notification of Carving and Marking.

I have attached below a copy of the Official Instructions for First Registry of Ships in the British Virgin Islands, as published by the BVI Registrar of Ships.  The description of the procedure may be of some interest, although we will provide the forms and take care of all the details, of course.

                   Official Instructions for First Registry of Ships in the British Virgin Islands

First (or Initial) Registry means the placing upon the Register for the first time of any ship, British or foreign built, old or new.  The requirements before First Registry can be effected are as follows:

Application to Register

(1)        There must be an application to the Registrar of Ships for registry of the ship.

Ship Name ‑ Approval

(2)        The name of the ship must be officially approved.  The appropriate form, obtainable from the Registrar, is to be completed and returned.  This ensures no duplication/confusion.

Surveys; Pre‑registration Certificate of Survey/Tonnage certificate

(3)        The ship must be surveyed and measured to obtain details of size, and other descriptive particulars necessary for the registration of British Ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts.  This is carried out by a Surveyor of one of the approved classification societies or a Surveyor appointed or authorized by the Administration.  Tile Surveyor issues a Certificate of Survey and a Tonnage Certificate (British or International).  A simplified procedure whereby a joint Certificate of Survey/Tonnage Measurement is issued, is applicable to Pleasure Yachts of Under Forty‑five (45) feet in Overall Length.

Ownership ‑ Qualified Categories: Person or Body Corporate

(4)        The Owners of British Ship must be:

(a)        British Citizens, British Dependent Territory Citizens, British Overseas Citizens, persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Act 1986 are British Nationals (overseas); or

(b)        Bodies Corporate incorporated in the Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom or in any relevant overseas territory and having their principal place of business in the Virgin Islands, United Kingdom or in any such territory.

C                    A Body Corporate must submit a valid Certificate of Incorporation issued by the respective Registrar of Companies.

Title:  Evidence of Ownership

(5 ) The Owner(s) must produce satisfactory evidence of title to ownership in the form of:

(a)        Builder's Certificate; with descriptive details of the ship, showing quite clearly the full name(s) of the person(s) or body corporate on whose account the ship has been built and /or,

(b)        Document of Sale or Transfer prior to registry if the ship has passed through more than one owner's hand before registry.  Forms for Bill of Sale and Certificate of Sale may be obtained from Registrar of Shipping in the Virgin Islands or at any British Registry of Ships.

(c)        In case of ships condemned by a competent court, a Bill of Sale given by tile Admiralty Marshall or such other competent person may be accepted as foundation of title.

(d)        With the documents produced as evidence of title to ownership, every owner is required to make a Declaration of Eligibility.  Such declaration can only be made after the ship has been acquired by the applicant.  Therefore, the date must not precede the date in the Builders Certificate or the Bill of Sale.

C                    The forms for the various types of Declaration of Ownership are obtainable from the Registrar.

Official Number

(6)        When all required documents are provided, the ship is given an Official Number, by which she may be known and recognized irrespective of her name and other description.

Carving and Marking Note

(7)        When the Registrar is satisfied that the ship is eligible to be registered a Carving and Marking Note is issued.  It shows the Ship's Name, Homeport, Official Number and Registered Tonnage which are to be carved/marked on the vessel and contains relevant instructions for doing so.

Certificate of Registry

(8)        When the Carving and Marking Note is returned and the fees have been paid, the ship is formally registered and a Certificate of Registry issued which contains details about the ship and its Owners.

C                    This Certificate only establishes the ship's Nationality and Tonnage.    It does not prove ownership or show mortgages, lien or any encumbrances.

N.B (Additional)

(1)   Surveys

(a)        All Vessels        The approved Classification Societies for the purposes of Survey/Inspection/Certification for Registration details, Tonnage and requirements of SOLAS, MARPOL are:  Lloyds Register of Shipping (LR), Bureau Veritas (BV), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Germanisher Lloyd (GL) and, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).  Some of the Survey may be initiated by the Ship owner but preregistration certificates are submitted directly to the Registrars Office.

(b)        Pleasure Yachts Under 45 Feet (13.7 Metres) in Overall Length       In addition to the 5 Classification Societies mentioned in (a), the Royal Yachting Association (U.K.) and the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association (U.K.) Are authorized to carry out pre­registration survey/certificate of these vessels.

(2)        All costs connected with survey and certification of vessel is for owners account.

(3)        Vessels of 79 feet (24 Metres) and over in length may require a Load Line Certificate unless they are exempted. This Certificate may after due inspection/survey be issued by any of the Classification Societies authorized and designated in that behalf by the Administration.    (See 1 (a) above.)

 (4)       Vessels must be Seaworthy and satisfy local, national or international standards of safety for their class and intended use.

(5)        Register in good time.  Always apply for registration well before you intend to sail.  Try to ensure that you have completed the necessary documentation properly and paid the correct fee.

(6)        Radio Station, Radio Operators, Call Sign and other Ship Radio and Telecommunication Licenses/Certificates are issued by the Telecommunications Officer of tile Ministry of Communications and Works, also located at the address below.