Registry Services

End-to-end flag state services designed for modern shipping!

VISR provides a complete set of registry and flag state services under the Maritime Act [CAP 131] (as amended) and the supporting regulations, rules, circulars and policies. Whether you are registering a new vessel, recording a mortgage, issuing seafarer documentation, or managing compliance, the Maritime Administrator delivers clear requirements, secure records, and verifiable certificates.

Our services are built around three priorities: (1) lawful, consistently applied standards; (2) efficient processing with predictable outcomes; and (3) documentation that can be verified quickly by port state control, counterparties and other stakeholders.

Requirements and timelines vary by vessel type, trade and risk profile. For the most accurate guidance, please refer to the published requirements, fee schedule, circulars and policies, or contact the Office of the Maritime Administrator.

Services at a glance 

•  Vessel registration (provisional and permanent) for eligible ships and yachts
• Bareboat charter registration (dual registry), where applicable
• Ownership and title services, including changes of ownership and name
• Mortgage recording and related registry filings
• Seafarer documentation, endorsements and licensing support
• Statutory certification coordination through approved Recognized Organizations, plus compliance support
• Electronic certificates and QR / reference-based verification tools

Vessel registration

Registration with VISR provides documentary evidence of a vessel’s status under the Vanuatu flag and access to flag state services throughout the life of the vessel.

Common registration services include:

• Name availability checks and name reservation (where required)
• Provisional registration to support timely entry into service
• Permanent registration following completion of required formalities
• Registration of newbuildings and vessels transferring from another registry
• Changes to registry particulars (e.g., name, ownership, manager, address details)
• Deletion (deregistration) and issuance of deletion documentation, where applicable

For certain vessel types (including fishing vessels and specialised operations), additional approvals or coordination with other competent authorities may be required.

Bareboat charter (dual registry) services

VISR supports bareboat charter registrations in accordance with applicable law and published requirements. These services help operators maintain continuity of operations while meeting the documentary and consent requirements of both registries.

Typical bareboat charter services include:

• Bareboat charter registration in (vessel flagged in Vanuatu while remaining on an underlying registry)
• Bareboat charter registration out (vessel bareboat chartered to another flag, where permitted)
• Coordination of consent requirements (registered owner, mortgagees, and underlying registry, as applicable)
• Issuance and management of time-limited bareboat certificates, extensions and closures

Title, ownership and mortgage services

The registry’s title and mortgage services are designed for commercial transactions and lender confidence. The Maritime Administrator maintains registry records and records eligible instruments in accordance with the Act and registry requirements.

Common services include:

• Recording bills of sale, transfers and other ownership instruments
• Recording of mortgages (including preferred mortgages, where applicable), amendments and discharges
• Issuance of certified extracts, transcripts and certified copies from registry records
• Evidence of registry status for counterparties (e.g., confirmations and certified documentation, where available)

Seafarer documentation and licensing

VISR issues and supports seafarer documentation for personnel serving on Vanuatu-flagged vessels, aligned with applicable international standards and published guidance.

Services include:

• Seafarer identification and record books, where applicable
• Endorsements attesting recognition (STCW), including renewals and revalidations
• Processing of officer and rating applications in accordance with published requirements
• Guidance for operators and crewing agents on on-board availability of verifiable certificates
• Support for specialised sectors (e.g., MODU and fishing vessel applications), where applicable

Statutory certification and compliance support

For statutory certification, the Maritime Administrator works with approved Recognized Organizations (ROs) and authorised inspectors to ensure Vanuatu-flagged vessels meet applicable international and national requirements.

Our compliance services typically include:

• Coordination of statutory surveys and audits through approved Recognized Organizations
• Issuance of Vanuatu statutory documentation where required and applicable
• Port State Control (PSC) readiness support, including follow-up on deficiencies and corrective actions
• Published circulars, safety letters and policies to clarify requirements and support consistent compliance
• Casualty, incident and pollution reporting pathways, where applicable

Digital certificates and verification

VISR has adopted electronic certificates as the standard method of issuance. Certificates issued by the Maritime Administrator are designed to be verifiable and tamper-resistant.

Key features include:

• Electronic issuance of certificates and documents as the default approach (with controlled exceptions)
• QR code and reference-based verification to support immediate authenticity checks
• Public certificate verification tools for vessels and seafarer documents
• Secure digital recordkeeping to support auditability and efficient service