Additional information relating to ship registration (eg. ownership shares, mortgages, tax exemptions and others).
Additional information relating to ship registration are presented below:
Vessel name
- All names to be used for a Singapore vessel must be approved by the Authority. This is applicable even when there is no change in the vessel name from its previous registry.
- Applications for vessel names must be made at least two weeks in advance to factor in the possible unavailability of the name
- More than one name may be submitted for approval but the order of preference must be clearly indicated.
- An approved name is valid for a period of one year.
Reservation of vessel name
- The existing name of a Singapore vessel may be reserved by its owner for a period of 10 years for use by a replacement vessel.
- Provide the Registry with the name of the replacement vessel that will take on the reserve name.
Change of vessel name
- To change the name of a vessel that is already registered (or is going to be registered as a Singapore vessel), approval must be sought from the Registrar.
- Upon receiving approval for the new name, an amendment slip for the Certificate of Registry and a Carving and Marking Note will be issued by the Registry.
- The Carving and Marking Note must be certified by the vessel’s classification society and returned to the Registry within 30 days of its issuance date.
- A fee of S$26 will be charged for the approval of a change in vessel name.
Call Sign/Signal Letter
- State clearly the gross tonnage of the vessel in the application letter.
- If the vessel is fitted or needs to be fitted with a radio station, then:
Block Transfer Scheme
- This scheme applies to owners registering vessels, within a reasonable period of time, that satisfy the following criteria:
- Two ships with aggregate tonnage of 40,000 NT.
- Three ships with aggregate tonnage of 30,000 NT.
- Four ships with aggregate tonnage of 20,000 NT.
- Five ships of any aggregate tonnage.
- Owners must write in to request for consideration under the Block Transfer Scheme prior to registering the first vessel.
- Owners should clearly state the total number of vessels, each vessel’s net tonnage and the approximate date of registration of each vessel.
Fees
- The fee for an ordinary registration is S$2.50 per NT to the nearest tonne subject to a minimum of S$1,250 (500 NT) and a maximum of S$50,000 (20,000 NT).
- The fee for registration under the Block Transfer Scheme is S$0.50 per NT subject to a minimum of S$1,250 (2,500 NT) and a maximum of S$20,000 (40,000 NT) per vessel.
- For other charges, refer to the full list of fees.
Annual tonnage tax
- The annual tonnage tax is S$0.20 per NT to the nearest tonne subject to a minimum of S$100 (500 NT) and a maximum of S$10,000 (50,000 NT).
- The annual tonnage tax must be paid at the time of initial registration or re-registration and thereafter every year on or before the anniversary date on which the vessel was registered or re-registered, as the case may be.
- No refund of the tax will be made if during the year for which the tax has been paid, the registry of the vessel is closed for any reason.
Ownership and share in a vessel
- Only persons or companies incorporated in Singapore may be registered as the sole or joint owners of a vessel or share therein.
- Ownership of a fractional part of a vessel will not be registered.
- Any number of individuals or companies not exceeding five may be registered as joint owners of a share or shares.
- The property in a Singapore vessel may be divided into any number of shares and such number may not be changed unless the vessel is re-registered. Owners are advised to divide their vessels into 64 shares unless there are special difficulties.
Priority of mortgages
- If there is more than one subsisting mortgage registered in respect of the same vessel or share, the mortgagees shall, notwithstanding any express, implied or constructive notice, be entitled in priority one over the other according to the date and time of the record of each mortgage in the register book and not according to the date of each mortgage itself.
Certified English translations
- All documents submitted to the Registrar must be in English.
- If a document is not in English, it must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Use of Power of Attorney
- A Bill of Sale, a mortgage and a transfer or discharge of mortgage may be executed by a lawfully appointed attorney.
- A Power of Attorney executed outside Singapore must be notarised and legalised.
- If the executor is not a local and documents are executed in Singapore, a letter of confirmation from the executor or notarisation of the document is required. The original and a copy must be submitted. The original will be returned after completion of the transaction.
- Only for the case of a discharge of mortgage, a certified true copy of the Power of Attorney may be accepted.
Tax exemption
- Profits derived from the operation of a Singapore vessel are exempt from Singapore income tax.
- The exemption applies to the income derived from the carriage in international waters of passengers, mail, livestock or goods by seagoing Singapore vessels and includes the income derived from the charter of such vessels.
- Enquiries on this matter should be made directly to:
- The Commissioner of Inland Revenue
- Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
- 55 Newton Road, Revenue House
- Singapore 307987
- Tel: 1800-3568622
- Website: http://iras.gov.sg
Fishing vessels, wooden vessels and hydrofoils
Fishing vessels, wooden vessels and hydrofoils will not be accepted for registration.
Authorised classification societies
- The following classification societies have been authorised to act on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Singapore in the surveys, certification and determination of tonnages of Singapore vessels, and conduct audits and certification with respect to the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code):
- American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
- Bureau Veritas (BV)
- China Classification Society (CCS)
- Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
- Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
- Korean Register of Shipping (KRS)
- Lloyd's Register of Shipping (LRS)
- Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)
- Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
- All the above classification societies have been appointed as Recognised Security Organisations (RSOs).
Registrar of Ships contact
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