Malta

*Note: Excluded Malta Government Registration fees and inspection cost The Malta Government Registration fee depends on the length and weight of the vessel. Please use this link to do a simulation http://www.transport.gov.mt

Malta Yacht Registration – let us take care of it!

The registration process in Malta is very straight forward, if you know your way around it. Malta Yacht Registrations can register your vessel with a provisional registration of 6 months within 2/3 days, if you have provided us with the correct documents. This provisional registration can be used all over the world while we continue with your permanent registration.

Anyone can own a yacht under the Maltese flag but EU, EEA and Swiss nationals may hold the yacht under their personal name while others would need to hold the yacht through a Maltese or foreign company. It is not required that the owner of the yacht resides in Malta or even in the EU. The place of residence of the owner is not relevant at all.

If the owner is not resident in Malta or the yacht is not owned by a Maltese company we will act as the vessels resident agent. This is a big advantage when compared to other EU vessel jurisdictions which usually require the person to be resident in the country concerned.

In order to receive the permanent registration, we will have to send Maltese Registrar of Ships additional documents but as mentioned we have 6 months to comply. If you cannot get all paperwork finished within 6 months we will apply for an extension giving us another 6 months to collect the papers needed.

Which type of vessels can register under Maltese flag?

All types of vessels, from pleasure yachts to oil rigs, including vessels under construction, may be registered, provided that, they are wholly owned by legally constituted corporate bodies or entities irrespective of nationality, or by European Union citizens. Vessels less than 6 meters cannot be registered with the Maltese international Flag Registration

Restrictions on certain vessels
There are no age restrictions on pleasure yachts or yachts registered under the commercial yacht code.

Note on older vessels:

Vessels of 15 years and over, but under 20 years must pass an inspection by an authorised flag state inspector before or within a month of provisional registration end
Vessels of 20 years and over but less than 25 years must pass an inspection by an authorised flag state inspector prior to being provisionally registered.
Vessels of 25 years and over require express permission by the authorities to be registered.

Pleasure Vessel Registration In Malta

Documents required for the Pleasure Registration of a vessel:

Original memorandum and articles of owning a company, only incase the owner of the vessel is a company
Recent good standing certificate of owning company, only incase the owner of the vessel is a company
Previous ITC (if vessel over 24 meters in length) - in case of new build ITC issued by the builder.
Declaration of antifouling (if vessel is over 24 meters length)

Documents required for permanent registration:

Original Builders Certificate (in case of new building)
Original bill of sale
Original certificate of survey
ITC (if the vessel is over 24 meters in length)
Carving and marking note duly signed
Original deletion certificate
Surrender the original provisional certificate

Recognised organisations:
Survey, tonnage and convention certificates may be issued on behalf of the Malta government by the following recognised organisations: American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, China Classification Society, ClassNK, DNV-GL, Korean Register of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Polish Register of Shipping, Registro Italiano Navale and Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

REGISTRATION FOR NON EU/EAA SWISS NATIONAL

If the owner of the ship is an NON EU / EEA / Swiss national, a registration of resident agent in Malta is mandatory, we will assist you with that. We require a declaration appointing us as Malta resident agent (notarized and apostilled) and a certified copy of owner’s passport (notarised and apostilled).
If the owner of the ship is a Maltese company created by us, we will provide all the required documentation.
If the owner of the ship is a foreign corporate entity, a registration of resident agent in Malta is mandatory, we will assist you with that. Please see below which documents are necessary in order to register your vessel with the Maltese Registration.