If you want to apply to re-register your merchant vessel, you can use the UK Ship Register online service.

You will need to provide supporting documents and pay the appropriate fee. The Application to Register and Declaration of Eligibility forms are not required if submitting your application online.

Please note, you will need to print off and sign any documents, as we cannot accept digital signatures.

How to re-register a merchant vessel

If a vessel has previously been UK registered and the current owner or new owner wishes to re-register a vessel, the following documents will need to be submitted as part of the application process:

• Application to Register MSF 4740 (A)
• Declaration of Eligibility MSF 4727
• Bill of Sale or Builders Certificate (only required if ownership has changed since the vessels last registration with UK Ship Register)
• Civil Liability Certification (CLC) when you receive the P&I “Blue Cards”, apply via the UK Ship Register online service
• Safe Manning Document
• Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (if the owner is a body corporate) 
• A copy of the valid Code Certificate or appropriate Safety Certificate (for vessels less than 24 metres) 
• Copy of the Ship's Radio Licence with call sign, applications are made with Ofcom 
• Copy of the ship’s current Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) and completed CSR amendment form 2 (for vessels more than 500 gross tonnage)
• Online payment of £153 registration fee via GOV.UK secure payment link (for five year period)

For any re-registrations, once the documentation is received a Carving and Marking Note will be issued, which will need to confirm the markings for the vessel and to be witnessed by a UK Recognised Organisation (RO). When completed it will need to be returned to uksr@mcga.gov.uk and the Certificate of Registry can then be issued.

Please note that any documents used to support your application for merchant vessel (Part 1) registration, if not in English, must be accompanied by a notarised translation.