1. An application must be submitted to the Registrar of Shipping for registration of all vessels. 

• ROAD HARBOUR
• WHITE BAY
• GORDA SOUND

3. SURVEYS: PRE-REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE OF SURVEY/TONNAGE CERTIFICATE

The vessel must be surveyed and measured to obtain details of size, and other descriptive particulars necessary for the registration of British Ships under the Merchant Shipping Act. This is carried out by a Surveyor of one of the approved Classification Societies (see section 11.1 (b)), or a Surveyor appointed or authorized by the Registry. The Surveyor issues a Certificate of Survey and a Tonnage Certificate (British or International). A simplified procedure, whereby a combined Certificate of Survey/Tonnage Measurement is issued is applicable to vessels of under 24 Meters, in Load Line Length.

4. OWNERSHIP - QUALIFIED CATEGORIES: INDIVIDUAL OR BODY CORPORATE

• United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.
• Nationals of and bodies corporate incorporated in;
  • Member States of the European Community (EC) or European Economic Area (EEA).
  • Overseas Territories of the Members of EC or EEA.  (Bodies corporate must have a place of business in such Member State or Overseas Territory)
• Bodies corporate incorporated in a Member State of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) or the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) (and registered in the BVI).

A Body Corporate must submit a valid Certificate of Incorporation issued by the respective Registrar of Companies. Individuals must provide certified proof of nationality (Passport etc.)

A company incorporated for more than twelve months needs to submit a ‘Certificate of Good Standing’.

5. TITLE: EVIDENCE OF OWNERSHIP

• Builder's Certificate; with descriptive details of the vessel, showing quite clearly the full name(s) and address of the person(s) or body corporate on whose account the vessel has been built and/or,
• Document /Bill of Sale or Transfer (prior to registry) if the vessel has passed through more than one owner's hand before registry. Forms for Bill of Sale can be obtained from the Registrar of Shipping in the Virgin Islands or at any British Registry of Ships.
• In case of vessels condemned by a competent court, a Bill of Sale given by the Admiralty Marshall or such other competent person may be accepted as foundation of title.

With the documents produced as evidence of title to ownership, every owner is required to make a Declaration of Eligibility. Such declaration can only be made after the vessel has been acquired by the applicant. Therefore, the date must not precede the date in the Builders Certificate or the Bill of Sale.

6. DOCUMENT FOR REGISTRATION

7. OFFICIAL NUMBER

1. When all required documents are provided, and found to be in order, the vessel is assigned an Official Number, by which it may be known and recognized irrespective of its name and other description.
2. Official Number may in certain circumstances be issued upon submission of duly completed and satisfactory Certificate of Survey. This will facilitate marking of the official number on the vessel as other papers are being processed.

8. CARVING AND MARKING NOTE

When the Registrar is satisfied that the vessel is eligible to be registered, a Carving and Marking Note is issued. It shows the vessel's Name, Port of Registry, Official Number and Registered Tonnage which are to be carved /marked on the vessel and contains relevant instruction for doing so.
 

9. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY

1. When the Carving and Marking Note is returned and the fees have been paid, the vessel is formally registered and a Certificate of British Registry issued. It contains details about the ship and its Owners.  On receipt of the certified Carving and Marking Note and all registration documents, the Certificate of British Registry will be issued within 24 hours.
2. This Certificate only establishes the vessel's Nationality, Owner(s), Description and Tonnage. It does not prove Ownership or show mortgages, liens or any encumbrances. These may be obtained from the Registrar, in the form of a Transcript of the Register, upon payment of the prescribed fee.
3. In circumstances where relevant documents have been received to the satisfaction of the Registrar, and a Carving and Marking Note has been issued, a ‘Provisional Certificate of British Registry’ may be issued.

10. FEES

1. Fees for Registry services must be paid before a Certificate of British Registry or a Transcript of the Register is issued. Other services such as, issue of a Provisional Certificate of Registry, Recording of Mortgage Intent, Registration of Mortgages, Transfer or Discharge of Mortgages, Change (Transfer) of Ownerships and Change of Name are available upon request; depending on satisfactory documentation and payment of prescribed fee. The payment should accompany all applications. Cheques and Money Orders must be made payable to “Accountant General”. For guidance to payment of funds to the Accountant General, please see our VISR Payment Instructions and Schedule of Fees.
2. All costs connected with the survey and certification of a vessel is for owners’ account.

11. GENERAL CONDITIONS

STATUTORY SURVEYS

• (a) All commercial vessels are subject to statutory certification and must be surveyed prior to acceptance for registration, in order to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the applicable International Conventions, Codes and legislation. These surveys may be carried out by surveyors from the VISR or surveyors appointed by an authorized Classification Society. Also, surveyors from the MCA or any of the Red Ensign Group Registries may be engaged if necessary.
• (b) The following six Classification Societies are authorized by the VISR for undertaking statutory surveys on behalf of the British Virgin Islands:
  • American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
  • Bureau of Veritas (BV)
  • Det Norske Veritas / Germanischer Lloyds ((DNVGL)
  • Lloyds Register of Shipping (LR)
  • ClassNK (NK)
  • Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
• (c) Yachts under 24 metres (79 feet) in load line length, engaged in commercial use:
  • These vessels must hold a ‘Certificate of Compliance’ issued under the relevant MCA Code of Practice (Blue Code, Yellow Code or MGN 280) to operate as commercial vessels. The survey/examination necessary to issue such a certificate may be conducted by surveyors from VISR, Classification Societies or a Certifying Authority approved by the MCA. Other surveyors may be appointed by the VISR, if required, on a case by case basis. Please see our Survey Application Form.
• (d) In order to initiate a Statutory Survey an application must be made to VISR in writing. On receiving the application, the Chief Marine Surveyor will contact the Owner or his representative to discuss the survey procedures, and make the necessary arrangements to carry out the survey and issue the required statutory certificates.
• (e) Please see our Survey Matrix for commercial and pleasure yachts.
• (f) For vessels with a registered length of over 24metres, the Chief Marine Surveyor will advise on the documentation required as these also depend on the gross tonnage and area of operation of the vessel.

11.2 TELECOMMUNICATIONS DOCUMENTS ETC.,

1. Radio Station, Radio Licence, Call Sign, MMSI Number and other Ships Radio and Telecommunication Licences / Certificates (Including INMARSAT) are regulated and issued by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) of the BVI.

• Contact details for TRC are:http://www.trc.vg/index.php/component/k2/item/31-radio-licensing-application-forms

Please see a listing of all our available forms.