BELIZE SHIP REGISTRATION
Provisional Registration
In accordance with The Registration of Merchant Ships Act 1989, as amended by Act No. 5 of 1996, a provisional registration is valid for six months. During this time, the shipowner or his representative is expected to gather all documents necessary for permanent registration.
The following documentation is required:
- Request for confirmation of availability of vessel's name
- Application for Registration of Ships form duly completed and signed by the applicant. One application for each vessel is required. This application includes the necessary information for the issuance of a Provisional Ship Station License.
- Proof of Ownership in the form of a Bill of Sale, Auction Document or Builder's Certificate
- Power of Attorney appointing a shipping agent in Belize
- Valid Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate in compliance with GMDSS Code (where applicable)
- International Tonnage Certificate (where applicable)
- Proof of compliance with ISM Code-Copy of Document of Compliance and Safety Management Certificate (where applicable)
- Application for Minimum Safe Manning Certificate
- Letter of confirmation from an authorized radio accounting entity undertaking the payment of vessel's radio accounts
- Applications for the Endorsements of Licenses for all officers
- For provisional registration, the abovementioned documents may be submitted by fax.
Vessels under construction may be granted provisional registration under special conditions.
A Provisional Patent of Navigation and a Provisional Ship Station License may be obtained from Head Office or from one of the Registry's Designated Offices worldwide.
Fishing Vessels
The registration of fishing vessels is additionally subject to the provisions of the High Seas Fishing Act, 2003. The requirements include the completion of an Application form for a License to Fish on the High Seas as well as the installation of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) utilizing INMARSAT C or INMARSAT Mini C or INMARSAT D+. Fishing vessels which land their catch at ports of member States of the European Union are required to pass a special sanitary inspection in compliance with the relevant EU/EC Directives.
Fishing vessels are also subject to the international and regional regulations applicable to the area of fishing which are implemented by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) such as ICCAT, as well as by bilateral or multilateral agreements for the protection of certain areas or endangered marine species. Currently, Belize is:
A Contracting Party of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
A Contracting Party of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
A Cooperating Non-Contracting Party of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATC). It will become a Contracting Party latest by when the IATTC “Antigua Convention” comes into force which is expected to be in 2009.
A Cooperating Non-Contracting Party of North East Atlntic Fisheries Commissions (NEAFC).
All Belize registered vessels which are licensed to target tuna or tuna-like species in the Convention areas of the abovementioned Commissions are listed in their respective Regional Vessel Registers.
Belize has also submitted its application for Cooperating non-Member Status of the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Our Application will be considered at its 4th Regular Session which will be held in December 2007. In the meantime, our fishing vessels which are operating in the WCPFC Convention Area are allowed to continue fishing there.
Permanent Registration
Permanent Registration can be effected at any time during the provisional registration period upon submission of the necessary documentation together with the applicable fees.
The following documentation is required:
Original or certified true copy of a duly notarized Bill of Sale, Judicial Sale Instrument or Builder Certificate.
Original Deletion Certificate from previous registry.
Original or certified true copy of the Power of Attorney appointing a shipping agent in Belize.
Copies of all valid statutory certificates issued by a Recognized Organization on behalf of the Government of Belize, including the ITC, DOC, SMC, ILLC, CSSRC, etc.,
Application form for Maritime Ship Station License duly completed.
International Tonnage Certificate issued by a Recognized Organization on behalf of the Government of Belize (where applicable)
Copies of Document of Compliance and Safety Management Certificate issued by a recognized organization on behalf of the Government of Belize (where applicable)
All documents submitted must be in the English language or, if they are in a foreign language, they must be accompanied by an official translation thereof.
If an original is to be submitted, a notary public or other recognized and authorized public official must certify the authenticity of the signature(s) that appear(s) on the document as well as the authority of the person(s) executing the document.
If a photocopy is to be submitted, a notary public or other recognized and authorized public official must certify the authenticity of the signature(s) that appear on the document as well as the authority of the person(s) executing the document, and must certify that the document is a true copy of its original.
Our Deputy Registrars are authorized by our Registry to perform as certifying officials for such purposes.
Special Registrations
IMMARBE also accepts vessels to be registered for a short period under special circumstances such as one delivery voyage for scrap. Procedures for special registration allow for documents to be issued with a validity of three months and automatic expiration when this period elapses. This special status does not entitle the vessel to a Deletion Certificate.
Registration of vessels of 7501 GT and above:
New quality criteria were introduced with effect from 1st November 2001. Basically the same procedure for registration is followed as for vessels up to 7500 GT except that:
All applicants must confirm that they have Third Party Liability Insurance Cover e.g. P&I cover.
Applications must be accompanied by a copy of the ISM Document of Compliance as well as a copy of the Safety Management Certificate or Confirmation from the Recognized Organization that the company is in the process of attaining certification of the latter.
Permanent status does not require renewal every 5 years.
Only vessels classed with IACS may be accepted.
Certificate of Deletion from previous Registry or permission to transfer or delete or other proof of consent to transfer Registry from current Registry is required.
Parallel/Dual Registration
Charter-In
Foreign registered vessels may obtain parallel or dual registration at IMMARBE as a second Registry under the terms of a bareboat charter party provided that the First Registry grants its consent in writing. Upon submission of an authenticated copy of the bareboat charter party, the consent from the First Registry and the corresponding fees, navigation and ship station licenses valid for up to two years will be issued.
Charter-Out
A vessel registered at IMMARBE may obtain a parallel registration in another country's registry based on a barebonat charter party. For this purpose, the applicant shall submit a formal application giving full details of the bareboat charter party. If satisfied that all formalities have been complied with, the Registry's Head Office may authorize the vessel’s parallel/dual registration for a period of up to two years. During the terms of this registration, all relevant annual and other fees will be payable to IMMARBE. Its title and any mortgages, liens or encumbrances thereon shall be recorded at IMMARBE.
Manning Requirements
Every Belize registered ship must be in possession of a valid certificate of Minimum Safe Manning (MSM) which is issued by IMMARBE in accordance with the applicable IMO Conventions/Regulations and which specifies the minimum number and composition of the crew complement. The issuance of the MSM Certificate is guided by Resolution A 890(21) of the International Organization (IMO). Owners may apply for a reduced manning scale should their ships be designed and constructed with unattended machinery space, or are approved with any other machinery automation or remote controls, or trading in restricted areas. Any request for a reduction or for a special complement must be justified by the applicant for evaluation by Head Office.
Endorsement of Officers’ Certificates
Belize was placed on the IMO STCW White List in November 2001. Also, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee has confirmed that in accordance with Regulation 1/8 of the STCW 1978 Convention, it has received the required independent evaluation which demonstrates that Belize is giving full and complete effect to the aforementioned Convention. The procedures for issuance of such Endorsements by IMMARBE are based on equivalence, requiring evidence that the applicant is in possession of an appropriate, recognized and valid certificate from a country that is on the IMO White List.
The General Safety Inspection Programme (Flag State Inspection)
All vessels registered at IMMARBE are subject to a safety inspection in order to ensure compliance with the national and international regulations. For this purpose an Inspection Fee is charged in the Annual Fees collected for each vessel. The inspection programme contemplates an annual General Safety Inspection, but the Administration may order a re-inspection or a special inspection when it is considered necessary.
The General Safety Inspections can only be performed by inspectors who are authorized by IMMARBE for this purpose. They are paid directly by IMMARBE’s Head Office. Each inspection is co-coordinated by the Head Office.
Recording of Documents
The recording of title deeds, mortgages, liens and encumbrances or any other assignments relating to any registered vessel is governed by the Merchant Shipping Act and may be requested through any Designated Office. Recording of documents may be either:
- Preliminary recording or
- Permanent recording
The preliminary recording of documents may be effected either by the Head Office or by any of the Designated Offices on the basis of an application submitted to the latter and forwarded to the Head Office for the records entry.
The preliminary recording of documents is valid for six calendar months and has the same legal effect as permanent recording. In the event that the permanent recording is not accomplished prior to the expiration of this period, the preliminary recording will lapse.
The permanent recording of documents may be requested at any time within the six months validity of the preliminary recording or immediately if all necessary documents are to hand.
Should the documents for recording be in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a notarized official translation into English. After completion of the procedures, a Certificate of Recording will be produced by IMMARBE and delivered to the applicant.
The recording of the vessel’s ownership title is required for the completion of the vessel’s registration as well as for the recording of mortgages, liens or encumbrances upon the vessel.
