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 a 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.