Registering a caveat in Part A of the New Zealand Register of Ships

How to register a caveat

Any person claiming an interest in a ship, or in a share in a ship, under any unregistered instrument or by operation of law can register a caveat.

You must have reasonable cause to register a caveat under the Ship Registration Act 1992.

When a caveat is registered, no further transactions can be entered in the register (except a transmission of the ship by operation of law) until the caveator, the person who registered the caveat, has been given notice.

To register a caveat, you must send the Registrar of Ships a caveat form (form SR21) in two original signed copies

Register a caveat - SR21
PDF: 59kB, 4 pages
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The fee to register a caveat is NZ$990. After your application is received, you will be invoiced by Maritime NZ, with information also provided about how to pay.

How to withdraw a caveat

To withdraw a caveat, you must send the Registrar of Ships a Withdrawal of caveat form (form SR22). There is no fee to withdraw a caveat.

You do not need to lodge a withdrawal of caveat if the documents lodged for registration vest in the caveator the interest claimed in the caveat.

Withdrawal of caveat - SR22
PDF: 57kB, 3 pages
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Contact us

If you have any questions about ship registration, contact Maritime NZ.