Part A ship registration
About Part A ship registration
The benefits of registering a ship under Part A of the New Zealand Ship Register (the Register) are that it:
- provides a ship with New Zealand nationality when it goes on overseas voyages
- protects a ship’s name for as long as it is registered
- provides evidence of ownership
- makes it possible to register a mortgage on a vessel
- lasts as long as the ship is New Zealand-owned. It does not end if the ownership changes or if the ship is altered.
Requirements for Part A ship registration
To register a ship under Part A of the Register, you must send the Registrar of Ships:
- an application for Part A Registration (form SR2)
- a ship builder’s certificate (form SR23) or a certified photocopy of a ship builder’s certificate if the ship has been previously registered in another country
- evidence of all ownership changes from the builder to you or, if the ship has been previously registered in another country, evidence of all ownership changes from the last registered overseas owner to you
- a Declaration of Ownership and Nationality (form SR4)
- a certified transcript of any previous overseas registration, if applicable
- evidence that any previous overseas registration has been closed, if applicable for example a deletion certificate
- for ships over 24 metres in length, an International Tonnage Certificate (1969) and a New Zealand Surveyor’s Tonnage Certificate. Both certificates must be prepared by a surveyor recognised by Maritime NZ
- for ships 24 metres or less in length, a surveyor’s certificate issued by a Recognised Surveyor recognised by Maritime NZ
- a carving and marking note signed by a Recognised Surveyor (for commercial ships) or by the owner (for pleasure vessels)
- an Appointment of Representative Person (form SR1) and fee is required if the ship’s owner does not reside in New Zealand or does not have a registered office in New Zealand
- for demise charter ships, a Declaration by Charterer (form SR5) and a copy of the charterparty.
You will incur a Recognised Surveyor's fee for the measurement of the ship. Recognised Surveyors will charge on a time basis and this will be a matter between you and the surveyor.
Maritime NZ has a list of Recognised Surveyors who are approved to undertake measurements of ships for Part A registration.
Maritime NZ will invoice you after we check your application is complete and formally accept it. A reference number and instructions explaining how to pay will be included with the invoice. A Part A ship registration will usually take about 25 working days to complete, although this depends on the individual circumstances of each application.
A Part A registration will take approximately 25 working days to complete, however it does depend on the individual circumstances of each application.