The Authority is certified to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Standard and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Standard by ABS- QE. 

The Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority (BSMA) maintains a high quality international ship register which takes pride in the high standard of its fleet and works to provide support and value to its customers.

Quality Flag for
Quality Owners

Bermuda is a well established international Flag of high standing with prolonged membership of the Paris and Tokyo MOU Whitelists as well as the United States QUALSHIP 21 program which reduces the likelihood of your vessel being inspected in these jurisdictions.

 Red Ensign Group (REG)

The Bermuda Ship Register is a Member of the Red Ensign Group of ship registries, the world’s ninth largest registry grouping. Vessels enjoy protection of UK and allied navies and shipowners can seek the support of British embassies and consulates. Bermuda has the benefit of and can influence UK Government representation at the IMO, ILO and other international fora.

English Law

Bermuda has a strong and clear legal system based on English maritime law and has comprehensive maritime legislation.

Competitive Costs

We aim to ensure that our fee structure and rates remain competitive.

Our Own Expert Surveyors

Statutory surveys can be delegated to classification societies, with audits and inspections relating to ISM, ISPS, MLC and PSSC being carried out by our own experienced surveyors based in North America, Europe and Asia. This ensures consistency, high standards, continued safety and a rapid response globally.

 

Problem Solving,
Solution Focused

Our in-house expertise across time zones enables us to give timely response to technical queries 24/7. We are focused on assisting the efficient, economic and compliant operation of ships, aware of the commercial and operational requirements of the shipowner.

Port State Control
(PSC) Support

Our expert surveyors are available 24/7 to assist with port state control matters to avoid delay, whether responding to requests for exemptions / dispensations or communicating directly with PSC.

REGISTRY REQUIREMENTS

Registering a ship in Bermuda is simple and straightforward.

The Registrar compiles the Carving and Marking note and sends this to the attending Bermuda of Class surveyor for completion, whereupon this is also returned to the Registrar,

At the time of registration the attending Bermuda surveyor or appointed Classification Society surveyor verifies the Builder’s Certificate or Bill of Sale and confirms this to the Registrar

Electronic submission of most documentation will be accepted, however original copies of the following are required:

Application to Register

Declaration of Eligibility

Proposed Name of a British Ship

Appointment of Authorised Officer

It is recommended that electronic copies are submitted in the first instance to expedite the registration, with the original copies following later.

The registration process can be completed very quickly at a time and date convenient to the vessel Owner and agreed with the Registrar of Shipping.

OWNERSHIP &
Qualified
PersonS

Ownership of a Bermuda registered ship must be divided into 64 shares which are, themselves, indivisible. A majority of these shares (at least 33) must be owned by “qualified” persons.

Representative
Person

 Where the majority interest in a ship is owned by body corporate or individual qualified meeting the above conditions, but is not resident in Bermuda, then a Representative Person will need to be nominated. This requirement can be met through the services of a Bermuda law firm, company or individual which can be nominated at the time of application.

Bermuda register vessels of any type, age or size provided that they meet the required standards.  The registered owner is not required to be incorporated in Bermuda and we provide a streamlined service with fast turnaround available at all times.

Please contact the Registrar directly for
further information:

VESSEL NAMES

The ship’s name may be reserved up to 12 months in advance.

For Bermuda ships, names may be anything that the owner wishes except that the name may not:

  • Be offensive
  • Be the same as an existing registered name for a Bermuda ship
  • Have Royal connotations without special permission from “H.R.H. The King”
  • Be derogatory

The name may be as long or as short as the owner wishes.

If a company has a corporate naming policy incorporating specific words or concepts these can be reserved indefinitely.

To reserve a ship name please submit the following form to the Registrar:

DEMISE REGISTER

The process allows a demise charter to be registered for the same period as the charterparty, up to a maximum of 5 years at a time. It may be renewed on as many occasions as necessary.

Demise ‘Out’

Ships which for operational reasons, charterer’s requirements or some other cause are required to fly a particular flag can demise ‘out’ and keep their underlying registry in Bermuda, with its sound protections of title and mortgages, while the operational jurisdiction can be moved to suit.

Demise ‘In’

Alternatively, it may be necessary for title to be registered in a particular jurisdiction but the ship can demise ‘in’ and still fly the  Bermuda flag and enjoy the advantages that come from this. The ship would be issued with a Bermuda Certificate of Demise Registry which would show the demise charterparty as the owner and state the identity of the underlying registry.

TRANSCRIPTS

A transcript is a public document available to any person and shows particulars of a ship/yacht, registered owners and any encumbrances.

To obtain a transcript the owner or their representative should email a request to the Registrar at registry@bermudashipping.bm who will prepare a transcript verifying the registered particulars and all mortgages current at the time of the enquiry. The cost of this transaction is $160.00

On a vessel leaving the register the Registrar can be requested to issue a closed transcript showing the registry entries in Bermuda closed.

RADIO STATION LICENSING (CLASS NINE)

The Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority issues the
Class Nine Licence for Bermuda ships, under the Regulatory 
 Authority of Bermuda.

Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority,
4/F Mintflower Place, 8 Par-La-Ville Rd, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda.
Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.