Frequently Asked Questions

3.  Under what circumstances should the ship be re-registered or renewed registration?

Re-registration is a term used under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance whereby the registration of the ship has been terminated earlier and subsequently re-registered. Examples of common cases are as follows: -

1. Registration is terminated when the vessel is sold to foreign nationals, and subsequently purchased by a Malaysian citizen and re-registered in Malaysia.
2. Registration is terminated when the ship is abandoned as a wreck or lost but subsequently found or recovered.
3. Registration is terminated when the owner applying for this vessel is licensed under the “Kaedah Bot Berlesen”. Subsequently, the vessel was sold to Malaysian citizens who needed registration status.
4. Ship registration is declared null and void by the court.

4.  What changes to the vessel should be notified to the Ship Registrar?

Owner of the vessel need to notify any amendments or changes in the ships information that affect the information in the Certificate of Registry of the Ship, for example; change of address or ship’s tonnage.

5.  How to register a ship?

Before a ship can be registered, the ship's name must be approved. Ship name application may be made at any Registrar's office. Once the registered name of the ship is approved, the application for registration of the vessel may be made at any of the registrar's office.

Normally, a Ship Certificate (Provisional Registry) will be issued by the Registrar of Ship before the Certificate of Registry is issued subject to the conditions stipulated by the Registrar of Vessels.

6.  What are the documents required for registration?

Document needed for registration purposes are :-

1. Application for the registration of ship;
2. Declaration of the ship ownership;
3. Original documents such as Builders Certificate (for new ship), Bills of Sale, Invoices, Proof of Ownership, etc.;
4. (Original document must be carried for verification purposes);
5. Certificate of Survey for the Tonnage and Measurement issued by Marine Surveyor;
6. International Tonnage Certificate 1969 is required if the vessels over 24 metres in length;
7. Certificate of Incorporation if the ship-owners is a corporate body;
8. If the vessels were acquired from a foreign ownership or foreign national Flag State ship, Deletion Certificate and registration information of the vessel is required.

7.  How can amendment of the ownership information of the vessel can be made?

In the case of an individual ownership, the ship owner or the designated vessel manager is allowed to apply for a change of ownership of vessel information at the registrar's office by submitting the following documents :-

1. A copy of Identification Card;
2. Appointment of Ship Manager;
3. Declaration of Ownership;
4. Original Bills of Sale referring to the last registered owner;  
5. Original Certificate of Registration of the ship. 

For the case of corporate body ownership :-

1. Declaration of Ownership; 
2. Appointment of Ship Manager; 
3. Original Bills of Sale referring to the last registered owner;  
4. Original Certificate of Ship Registration; 
5. Memorandum and Article of Association; 
6. Certificate of Incorporation of Company (Form 9); 
7. Return of Allotment of Share (Form 24) of Company Act 1965;
8. Form 49 of Companies Act 1965.

8.  How can amendment of the vessel information can be made?

The Ship Inspector needs to check the vessel to verify the details of the details and issue a Ship Inspection Certificate. For the amendment of the ship's engine details, the documents to be submitted are :-

1. Certificate of Survey;
2. Copy of Ship Registration Certificate;
3. Form 255-Pin 1/99 which certified by the Ship Surveyor;
4. Survey Form 118 – Ship Engine Declaration

For the amendment of the ship tonnage, the document to be submitted are :-

1. Certificate of Survey; 
2. Copy of Ship Registration Certificate;
3. Form 255-Pin 1/99 which certified by the Ship Surveyor;
4. Copy of International Tonnage Certificate 1969. 

9.  How to register a ship’s mortgage?

There are two kinds of mortgages, first is toto secure principal sum and interest " and "to secure account currentAn application to register a chartered vessel must be in Form 247/249/251 and the original document or certified copy of the contract and the act of agreement. Fees charged for this process are based on the xxxx schedule, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.

Malaysian Ship Registry

10.  Who is eligible as a Malaysian Ship owner?

Eligibility as the owner of a Malaysian ship :-

1. Malaysian Citizenship;
2. If it is owned by a company, the company must be incorporated in Malaysia;
3. Has headquarters in Malaysia;
4. Majority (51% or more) of the shareholding are held by Malaysian citizens;
5. Majority of the board of directors are Malaysian citizens.

11.  Where can the ship be registered? 

Port Register in Malaysia for this registration is Port Kelang, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Malaysian International Ship Registry

12.  Who is eligible as Malaysia International Ship owner?

Eligibility as the owner of Malaysian International ship :-

1. Company incorporated in Malaysia;
2. The company must have an office in Malaysia;
3. Majority (51% or more) of the shareholding are held by foreigner;
4. Paid up capital must be 10% from the value of the ship or Ringgit Malaysia One Million or whichever is higher.

13.  Where can the ship be registered under the Malaysian International Ship Registry?

Port Register for Malaysian International Ship registry in Malaysia is Labuan.

14.  What are the requirement to register the ship under the Malaysian International Ship Registry? 

1. Equipped with mechanical propulsion system;
2. Not less than 1,600 tonnage;
3. The oil tanker or bulk carrier age does not exceed 15 years;
4. The age of the vessel other than as stated above not exceed 20 years.

15.  What are the document required for the application for the Certificate of Insurance CLC 1992 and BCC 2001?

1. Application Form;
2. Copy of Ship Registration Certificate;
3. Copy of Insurance Certificate.

16. How much is the fee for every application for the 1992 CLC Insurance Certificate?

Fee charged is RM 100 for each foreign vessels and Malaysian vessels.

17.  How much is the fee for every application for the 2001 Bunkers Insurance Certificate?

Fee charged are RM 100 for Malaysian vessels and RM400 for foreign vessels.

18.  How much weight is the Gross Tonnage (GT) of the vessel required to have the BCC Insurance Certificate 2011?

Weight of a vessel must be 1,000 (GT). Please refer to the Malaysian Shipping Notice NPM 1/2009.

19.  What is the quantity of oil cargo that requires a ship to have the 1992 CLC Insurance Certificate?

The vessel obliged to own the 1992 CLC Insurance Certificate is a ship that carries oil as a cargo exceeding 2,000 tons. Please refer to Malaysia Shipping Notice NPM 57/2005 which is read in conjunction with the Merchant Shipping Notice JL 4/1995..