United Kingdom (UK Ship Register)

The UK Ship Register is the United Kingdom's ship register and one of the best-known flags in yachting. We help you assess the requirements and handle the registration for you, from gathering the documents to the issue of the certificate of registry.

Who runs the register

The register is part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the UK government agency responsible for maritime safety. The United Kingdom heads the Red Ensign Group, the group of British registers that also includes Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories such as Jersey, the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar.

Who can register a vessel

The register is divided into several parts. Part 1 accepts pleasure and commercial vessels and allows ship mortgages to be registered; the Small Ships Register (Part 3) is a simplified registration reserved for owners resident in the UK. Those eligible for Part 1 include British and Commonwealth citizens and companies incorporated in the UK or in a Commonwealth country. If none of the owners is resident in the UK, a representative in the country must be appointed.

Since Brexit, the position of EU citizens and companies has been under review by the MCA, so we check case by case whether the owner meets the requirements in force at the time of application.

Advantages

• A prestigious, internationally recognised flag.
• Part 1 registration valid for five years, with proof of ownership and the option of registering mortgages to secure a loan.
• Both private and commercial yachts can be registered.

How we help

• Preliminary check of the ownership requirements and of the most suitable part of the register.
• Gathering and checking the documents: bill of sale, certificate of deletion from the previous register, owner's or company's documents.
• Coordination with the register, the UK representative and the professionals responsible for tonnage measurement and technical surveys.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page, telling us about the vessel and who owns it: together we will assess whether the British flag is the right choice for you.

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