Ship Registration

Registration Procedures

Find below the required application documents for the Provisional Registration of a vessel under Gabon Flag:

  1. Application form for the Registration of a Vessel, by the Owners
  2. Application for Minimum Safe Manning, Owners or Managers
  3. Declaration of CSO
  4. Notarized Bill of Sale & Acceptance of Sale (in case of new Ownership)
  5. Updated Good Standing certificate of the Owning Company [1]
  6. Updated Non-Encumbrance (one week maximum) OR Deletion from the previous flag
  7. Confirmation from the intending RO (Class & Statutory certificates)
  8. Confirmation from the RO (ISM, ISPS & MLC) (if applicable)
  9. Confirmation from the intending Radio Accounting Authority [2], Declaration of Company Security Officer
  10. Management Agreement
  11. Previous / Existing ITC’69 (all pages)
  12. Previous / Existing Registration, Radio License, Minimum Safe manning certificates
  13. Colored Passport copies of the Applicant
[1] In general, only companies accepted as owners. Requests for individuals can be accepted only at Commissioner’s approval.
[2] All ITU registered Radio Companies are accepted.

The below conditions apply:

  • The vessel has valid Provisional Registration certificates
  • There are no financial dues to Administration
  • All Seafarers on board are properly certified and Officers bear valid STCW Endorsements or 3 months provisional permission letters

Find below the required application documents for the Full Term Registration of a vessel under Gabon Flag:

  1. Radio Installation Report, signed and stamped by vessel’s Master
  2. Original Notarized Bill of Sale & Acceptance of Sale (or relative proof of Ownership as applicable)
  3. Original Deletion certificate from the previous flag
  4. Copies of Valid Class & Statutory certificates including ISM, ISPS & MLC, under Gabon flag
  5. ITC’69 (all pages), under the Gabonese flag
  6. Updated Crew list
  7. Conformance test
  8. ID Inmarsat

Find below the required application documents for the Bareboat IN Registration of a vessel under Gabon Flag:​

  1. Transcript or Register from the foreign registry
  2. Certificate of Good Standing of the Bareboat Charterers
  3. Copy of the Bareboat Charter Party
  4. Written consent from the foreign registry

All certificates issued from Gabonese Registry must not exceed the validity of the Bareboat charter party.

The below condition apply:

  • Vessels need to complete the Full Term Registration in Gabon flag

Find below the required application documents for the Bareboat OUT Registration of a vessel under Gabon Flag:​

  1. Confirmation from the intended foreign Flag Authorities that bareboat registration is permitted
  2. Written consent from the mortgagees (if applicable)
  3. Written undertaking by the Charterers that the Gabonese flag shall not be hoisted during the period of bareboat charter registration
  4. A copy of the bareboat charter party
  5. Return of the original Registration, Radio License, Minimum Safe manning and ITC’69 certificates issued under Gabon flag
  6. Copy of the Foreign Bareboat Certificate of Registry evidencing record of the mortgage(s) (if applicable)
  7. Payment of the relevant fees (including the Annual Taxes for the period that the vessel intends to remain under Bareboat Registration in Gabon flag, as per the Bareboat agreement, irrespectively if the period is terminated sooner)

Commissioner issues a Letter of Authorization for the Bareboat Registration under the foreign flag.

Find below the required application documents for the Provisional Mortgage Registration of a vessel under Gabon Flag:​

  1. Notarized Application form for Registration of Mortgage
  2. Mortgage Deed (“Deed of Covenants”) containing the date and amount of Mortgage, discharge amount and date of maturity signed by both parties – the signatures should be notarized
  3. Power of Attorney from the Mortgagor to the person who will sign the Mortgage (Notarized)
  4. Power of Attorney from the Mortgagee to the person who will sign the Mortgage (Notarized)
  5. Recent Certificate of Good Standing of the Mortgagee if same is not a bank
  6. Payment of relevant fees (Registration of the Mortgage)

The Mortgage can be Provisionally Registered upon receipt of the original notarized documents.

The Permanent Mortgage Registration will go into effect only upon vessel’s completion of procedures in order to be permanently registered in Gabon Registry.

The Mortgagee’s written consent shall be required for any change in the Registration status (e.g., change of Ownership, Change of vessel’s name or its Deletion, as well as Bareboat Charter Registration to another Registry, etc.)

The Registration of the Mortgage is completed by the Commissioner who also issues the relative Certificate of Mortgage Registration

Mortgage Discharge

A Mortgage may be discharged only upon receipt of the Original notarized Letter of Discharge of Mortgage, signed by the mortgagee.

The relative Certificate of Discharge of Mortgage Registration is issued by the Commissioner.