Searching the New Zealand Register of Ships
Find out how to search the New Zealand Register of Ships
Information held on the New Zealand Register of Ships can help you, including if you are:
- registering a new ship or pleasure (recreational) vessel
- wanting to know if a ship or vessel has the same name you want to use.
Get registration information for a specific ship
To search the New Zealand Register of Ships (the Register) you need to know:
- the ship’s name, or
- the ship’s official number (Part A) or registration number (Part B).
Ships registered under Part A have an official number, usually a six‑digit number.
Ships registered under Part B have a registration number s beginning with “NZ”.
There are four ways to get information from the Register:
- Contact Maritime NZ’s Registrar of Ships and ask for verbal information about the ship. There is no charge for verbal information. You can email the Registrar at: [email protected]
- Inspect the ship’s register entry during Maritime NZ’s normal business hours. The fee for this is NZ$245.
- Request a certified transcript of the ship’s Register entry, including details of ownership and any mortgages. The fee for this is NZ$245. A certified transcript means the Registrar of Ships (or Deputy Registrar of Ships) has confirmed the information to be correct and current.
- Request a computer printout of the ship’s Register entries, including details of ownership and any mortgages. The fee for this is NZ$245. A computer print-out will not be certified.
Search online now
Use our online search tool to find out if the name of a vessel or ship is available for registration.