1. Eligibility

A vessel is entitled to be registered in Bermuda if the majority interest (i.e. at least 33 of the 64 shares) is legally & beneficially owned by qualified persons, individuals and/or bodies corporate. Foreign ownership may hold a minority interest (i.e. up to 31/64 shares). Example of acceptable ownership:

10 shares - Norwegian
21 shares - Chinese
33 shares - Bermuda Company

Qualified persons are:

(a) British Citizens
(b) British Overseas Territories citizens
(c) British Overseas citizens
(d) Persons who under the British Nationality Act 1981 of the United Kingdom are British subjects.
(e) Persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality Act) 1986 of the United Kingdom are British Nationals Overseas.
(f) Bodies Corporate incorporated in Bermuda, the United Kingdom or any relevant British possession*.
(g) Bodies corporate incorporated in an EEA state.
(h) European Economic Interest Groupings being groupings formed in pursuance of Article I of the Council Regulation No. 2137/85 and registered in the United Kingdom.

*Relevant Overseas Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Falklands Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena and Dependencies, Turks & Caicos, British Virgin Islands.

Note: All vessels where a majority ownership is not resident Bermuda, a Bermuda Resident must be appointed as a Representative Person for the majority ownership. (The representative person may be an individual or company.)

2. Registration Procedure - New vessel or for Change of Flag

1st Stage; the owner submits to the Registrar of Shipping in Bermuda

(a) Application to register
(b) Application for the approval of the vessel's name.

2nd Stage; Assessment of vessel's compliance with International and National Merchant Shipping Legislation by Bermuda Surveyors and issue of Letter of Compliance.

3rd Stage; Measurement and Tonnage surveys prior to registration are arranged and completed. (Except for yachts engaged in commercial activity, pleasure yachts under 400 grt only require a survey for Tonnage Measurement arranged directly by the vessel's owner with one of the approved Classification Societies; ABS, BV, DNV, GL & LR and RINA by special arrangement).

4th Stage; the owners submit to the Registrar

(c) Declaration of Eligibility. (Includes appointment of manager and/or representative person where applicable.)
(d) Builder's Certificate or original Bill of Sale
(e) Copies of Bills of Sale issued within the last five years
(f) Fees. and where body corporate owned
(g) Certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles
(h) Appointment of Authorised Officer.

5th Stage: the marking of the vessel's name, IMO number, official number, port of registry and tonnage are verified.

6th Stage: the vessel is registered, and a Certificate of Registry and Tonnage certificate are issued to the vessel. 
The Certificate of Registry is now valid for ten years from the date of issue.

Detailed guidance on this procedure is available from the Department of Maritime Administration.

3. Registration Procedure - Transfer from another Port of British Registry

1st Stage: the owner (individual and/or authorised officer)

(a) Request to Registrar at current port of registry to transfer registry to Bermuda (vessel retains existing official number)
(b) Submits to the Registrar of Shipping in Bermuda

(i)   Declaration of Eligibility
(ii)  Appointment of Authorised Officer form
(iii) Fees

2nd Stage: the marking of the vessel's new port of registry is verified.

3rd Stage: the vessel is registered, and a new Certificate of Registry issued for exchange of the old certificate.

Detailed guidance on this procedure is available from the Department of Maritime Administration.

4. Radio Call Sign and Radio License

Until a vessel is registered it cannot operate a Radio Station until it has

a) a new radio call sign
b) a Bermuda Radio License

A call sign is issued by the Registrar as "signal letters" which become the Radio Call Sign upon issuance of a Bermuda Government radio license.  A radio license is issued by the Bermuda Department of Telecommunications who are also responsible for other radio identification numbers; Selcall, INMARSAT, MMSI etc.

Contact the Department of Telecommunications at (441) 292-4595 (telephone) or (441) 295-1462 (fax) for further information.

5. Mortgages

Mortgages are accepted for recording at the time of registration or at any time thereafter and rank in priority according to the date & time they are accepted for registration.  Mortgagees may be individuals, joint or bodies corporate. There are no restrictions on the nationalities of mortgagees.

6. Bareboat Charter Registration

The Bermuda Merchant Shipping Act 2002 permits bareboat registration from "compatible" foreign registries, subject to the consent of the Bermuda authorities. Similarly, ships on the principal register may be bareboat registered out to other compatible registries.