Pensum Offshore Ltd.

The registration survey is conducted in advance of registration and must be done either by a member of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry, or by one of the following Classification Societies:

Note that use of Classification Societies does not mean that classification as such is required for private pleasure yachts. Statutory classification applies to merchant ships.

Documentation
Following the registration survey, the surveyor submits the Certificates of Survey and Tonnage Measurement to the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry.

On behalf of the vessel owning company, we complete or submit the following basic documentation:

Application to register.
Notice of Proposed Name.
Declaration of Private Use.
Declaration of Ownership, (applies to an owning company).
Appointment of Authorised Person, (applies to an owning company).
Bill of Sale, (to be supplied by owner, for an existing vessel).
Builder's Certificate, (to be supplied by owner, for a new vessel).
Deletion Certificate from previous flag, (if previously registered in another jurisdiction).
Representative Person documentation if owner is not a Cayman company or resident.
Corporate Resolutions.
Certificate of Good Standing where owner is a company.
Registration fees.

Further documentation may be needed depending on circumstances, examples of which include registration of a mortgage, demise charter or registration under construction. The registration process can become quite complicated depending on the provenance of the vessel and what the owner seeks to do. The latter includes issues of chartering and EU VAT mitigation.

The Registrar, if satisfied with all documentation, issues a Carving and Marking Note.

Carving and Marking
The Carving and Marking Note [C&M Note] requires the following actions:

To paint the name of the vessel on either side of the bows [merchant ships only]
To paint the name and port of registry, [Name of Vessel George Town] on the stern of the vessel in clearly visible lettering in a colour that contrasts well with the colour of the vessel’s hull. Lettering can be decorative as long as it is clearly readable. Letter size should be commensurate with the size of vessel, and space available for painting, but again of sufficient size to be clearly visible. Note that the port of registry, “George Town”, is two words. The addition of “C.I.” or “Cayman Islands” after the port of registry is optional and used sometimes by yacht owners.
To display the IMO Number in letters at least 20cm high on the vessel’s sides or stern (cargo ship requirement) or on a horizontal surface (passenger ship requirement) in respect of all passenger ships of 100GT and above and all Cargo ships of 300GT and above.

Yachts registered as commercial yachts under the commercial yacht codes will require to comply at the 300GT threshold. Yachts registered as passenger ships under SOLAS will require to comply at the I00GT threshold.

The display of IMO numbers arises from maritime security provisions set out in SOLAS Chapter XI, particularly regulations 4 and 5. SOLAS Chapter XI-2/3.4 provides for alternate locations for the display of IMO Numbers. It was agreed within the Red Ensign Group in 2003 that, in respect of commercial yachts, the IMO number may be displayed on a horizontal surface. IMO Numbers comprise seven digits and are displayed in the format, “IMO xxxxxxx”
To have clearly marked on the Main-Beam, the Official Number, Net Tonnage and, where applicable, the IMO Number of the vessel. Lettering should be approx. 1 inch (2.5cm) high and of proportionate breadth. Lettering should be engraved, either directly on the vessel's structure or onto a plate made of wood, metal, or plastic, which is then permanently secured with epoxy adhesive, rivets, screws with head slots filed off, or bolts with ends clenched. Plates that have been secured with adhesive should be coated with clear epoxy resin after they have been fixed in position. If there is no Main-Beam then select a suitable permanent structural feature of the vessel where the marking can be readily seen.

Once the above has been installed and completed, it needs to be inspected by an approved person that includes a flag surveyor, class surveyor, Captain of the Port, Customs Officer, and Consular Officer. Then person certifying should sign and certify the document with his official stamp or seal.

In some instances the surveyor will accept a photograph of the marking, installed in a pre-arranged position which he sighted during his first survey. It often helps to supply a "before" photograph, which he can later compare with the "after" photograph, taken on completion of the carving & marking.

The Registrar will normally issue a Certificate of British Registry on receipt of the certified Carving and Marking Note. Conditional Registration is also possible. This involves the issue of a conditional certificate of registry which allows 21 days to complete the carving and marking and submit the completed document.

Radio Station Licensing
A Radio Station Licence is required for vessels registered or predominantly moored in the Cayman Islands where any radio transmitting equipment is on board even if not in constant use or used only for distress purposes. The licence is normally issued after the vessel is registered and is also a condition for commissioning satellite communications. Where time is critical, it is possible to obtain a radio station callsign and MMSI number in advance of registration so that satellite equipment, including EPIRB’s can be programmed. To process the application, radio equipment details and search & rescue contact information is required. An application form is available on request. For certain vessels a selcall number may also be needed and these, too, we can obtain.

Provisional and Conditional Registration
In addition to the traditional method of registration, there also exists the possibility for provisional and conditional registration.

Provisional registration is a facility that empowers a British Consul or British High Commissioner in a Commonwealth Country to issue a Certificate of Registry valid for up to three months or until the ship arrives at a port where there is a British Registrar of Shipping, if sooner. As a minimum, short term statutory load line, safety and pollution prevention certification must be acquired before the vessel proceeds to sea. A mortgage may be recorded from the time of provisional registration. If the provisional registration expires without permanent registration, any mortgage will remain in effect.

Conditional registration is processed at the CISR and typically provides for the issue of the Certificate of Registry (and recording of mortgage) in advance of completing all the statutory surveys or the carving and marking. Regardless of such registration, the vessel should not leave port until properly marked and certified. Registration of ships under construction is also a form of conditional registration since these ships must pass survey on completion of construction before qualifying for permanent registration. Whether or not the vessel acquires permanent registration, any mortgage will remain in effect.

Change in Ship’s Particulars
When any of the ship’s particulars other than a change in ship’s hull or method of propulsion.
Change in Ship’s Method of Propulsion
When the method of propulsion has changed for a ship of less than 50 GT.
Re-measurement
When a ship has been re-measured on a different form to its original survey, but there have been no actual changes to its dimensions.

Registration Anew
Registration anew is done when the changes are beyond what can be recorded with a simple alteration. Such changes include:

Change in Hull
When there is a change in the hull affecting the length, breadth or depth of the ship.
Change in Ship’s Method of Propulsion
When there is a change in the ship’s method of propulsion for vessels over 50GT. Such changes might include fitting an auxiliary engine, conversion from dumb to motor, sail to motor or motor to water-jet propulsion.
Request by Owners
When requested by new owners after they have registered their title.

Registration anew requires the vessel to be re-surveyed for the issue of new certificates of survey and tonnage measurement.