When and how to close a ship registration for Part A registered ships
About closing a registration (Part A only)
Maritime NZ does not charge a fee to close a registration.
If you need evidence that the ship is no longer registered in New Zealand, the Registrar of Ships can issue a certified transcript of the closed registry (deletion certificate). A new owner may need this to register the ship in another country.
The approximate processing time to close a registration is five working days from when the Registrar of Ships receives correctly completed documents.
When a ship is no longer entitled to be registered (Part A only)
A ship is no longer entitled to be registered if it has been sold to, or is now owned by, someone who is not:
- a New Zealand citizen, or
- a New Zealand body corporate (company).
In this case the registration must be closed.
The ship’s registered owner must send the Registrar of Ships:
- a copy of the Bill of sale (form SR14) completed in full by the registered owner(s). The nationality of the purchaser(s) must be included on the form
- the ship’s certificate of registry (“the blue book”).
When a ship is no longer required to be registered or has been lost at sea (Part A only)
- A ship is no longer required to be registered if:
- it is under 24 metres in length and does not go overseas, or
it has been lost at sea.
The ship’s registered owner must send the Registrar of Ships:
- an Application for closure of registration (form SR32) completed in full by the registered owner(s)
- the ship’s certificate of registry (“the blue book”).
- * Part A registration only
Contact us
If you have any questions about ship registration, contact us.