F.A.Q

The following persons are qualified to be the owners of ships to be registered on Part 1 the Register:
● British Citizens or non-United Kingdom nationals exercising their right of freedom of movement of workers or right of establishment
● British Dependent Territories citizen
● British Overseas citizens
● Persons who under the British Nationality Act 1981 are British subject
● Persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 are British Nationals (overseas)
● Bodies corporate incorporated in a EEA State
● Bodies corporate incorporated in any relevant British possession and having their principal place of business in the United Kingdom or in
any such possession and European Economic Interest Groupings being groupings formed in pursuance of Article 1 of Council Regulation
(EEC) No.2137/85 and registered in the United Kingdom
● A person who is not qualified as per above, to be the owner of a ship registered on Part 1 of the Register may nevertheless be one of the
owners of such a ship if a majority interest in the ship (within the meaning of regulation 8) is owned by persons who are so qualified and
the ship is registered on Part 1 of the Register.

Merchant registration may be used for merchant ships, including workboats, tugs, large cargo ships and passenger vessels operating
commercially on the UK Ship Register.

Leisure registration may be used for the registration of a leisure vessel on the UK Ship Register under Part 1 (Pleasure) or Part 3 (Small Ship Register)

The main differences between the two registers are the eligibility requirements and the proof needed to register. Part I of the Register is more of a title register and proof of ownership, which can also record details of any mortgages on the boat, whereas the SSR is more of a passport for your boat to enable you to go overseas.

To be eligible to register on the SSR your boat must be under 24 metres and privately owned. You must either be a British citizen; a non-UK citizen exercising your EU right of freedom of movement or worker’s right for establishment; British Dependant Territories citizens; British Overseas citizens; British subjects under the British Nationality Act 1981; British Nationals (overseas) under Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 or Commonwealth citizens not falling within this paragraph. You must also be ordinarily resident in the UK (which means living in the UK for periods which add up to 185 days or more in a 12 month period

Provisional registration conveys no entitlement to register a ship under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Provisional registration may be used in the event the vessel must travel before completing registration.

Provisional registration conveys no entitlement to fish for profit. If a ship is fishing for profit, its Certificate will immediately terminate.

Certificate is valid either for three months from the date of issue, the ships arrival in the United Kingdom or termination by the Registry on request from the owner, whichever is sooner. Please note a provisional certificate can not be renewed.

Part I registration lasts for 5 years. Three months before the expiry date, the Registry will issue a renewal notice to the registered owner which is to be completed and returned (with accompanying fee) to extend the registration for a further five years.