If your vessel was previously registered on the UK Ship Register and the registration has expired, and you wish to re-register, you can apply by contacting our team. Vessel registration lasts for five years.

Documents required for merchant vessel re-registration

Please note that any documents used to support your application for merchant vessel (Part 1) re-registration, if not in English, must be accompanied by a notarised translation. You will need to print off and sign any documents, as we cannot accept digital signatures.

• 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 vessel's last registration with UK Ship Register)
• Copy of the 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)
• Deletion certificate or transcript from the current register or a written undertaking to provide one within six weeks (if applicable)
• 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 (if applicable)
• Civil Liability Certification (CLC) when you receive the P&I “Blue Cards”, apply via the UK Ship Register online service
• Safe Manning Document
• Online payment of £153 registration fee via GOV.UK through the secure payment link (for five year period)

Vessel registrations with the UK Ship Register that have been closed for more than 12 months will also need to provide the following additional documentation:

• UK Certificate of Survey for Tonnage and Measurement issued within the last 12 months
• International Tonnage Certificate (ITC69) (for vessels over 24 metres) or a British Tonnage Certificate and Survey (for vessels less than 24 metres)

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.