Registration and Documentation

The Liberian Registry is open to any ship owner in the world. In order to enter the Liberian registry a vessel must be less than 20 years of age and must meet high safety standards. The owner can register a vessel in Liberia while under construction, or immediately upon delivery of the vessel by the builder, or transfer a vessel to Liberia while trading or under repair or in lay-up. Registration can be performed while at port, yard, anchorage or at sea.

An applicant is encouraged to visit the Flag Administration’s website for a full list of registration packages containing lists of specific registration requirements, guidelines and applicable forms.

Ship registration can usually be completed in one (1) day. Three (3) to four (4) business days are typically required to safely deliver original ship registration certificates to any location in the world. In general, the time required to register a ship under the Liberian Flag is dependant on the completion of the registration documents by the ship owner and their transmission to the Liberian Registry. As soon as a draft application for registration is e-mailed or faxed to the Liberian Registry’s Registration Department in New York (registration@liscr.com), undated ship certificates can be pre-positioned with one of Liberia’s nautical inspectors in the port where flag change is scheduled to take place.

Vessel Registration

List of Requirements: Forms required in order to register a vessel in Liberia may be obtained from any office or from the Flag Administration’s website (Registration Packages)

• Application for Registration (Form RLM-101A)
• Evidence of Authority (i.e. Original Power of Attorney or Corporate Resolutions)
• Proof of Ownership (i.e. Bill of Sale; Builder’s Certificate)
• Class Documents: Confirmation of Class and Statement or Affidavit from Class Society
• Survey Report: if vessel is fifteen (15) years of age or older
• Proof Vessel is Free of Recorded Liens: if vessel is transferring from another flag
• Consent to Transfer and/or Deletion Certificate: from the vessel’s current registry
• Proof of Liability Insurance
• Application for Minimum Safe Manning Certification
• International Safety Management (ISM) Code Declaration Forms
• Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) Declaration
• Application for Waiver of Ownership: if the owner of a vessel is registered as an FME
• Application for Waiver of Age: if the vessel registered is over twenty (20) years of age but it has been accepted for registration under the Liberian Flag
• Application for Waiver of Tonnage: if the vessel registered is less than 500 net tons but it has been accepted for registration under the Liberian Flag
• BCLC Blue Card: required for all vessels over 1000 gross tons
• CLC Blue Card: required for vessels carrying more than 2000 tons of oil in bulk as cargo
• Application for Ship Radio Station License
• Application for INMARSAT Equipment
• Interim Ship Security Certificate (ISSC): a Ship Security Assessment and Ship Security Plan must be submitted to the Flag Administration’s Security Department located in Vienna, VA office preceding the Interim Security Verification
• Oath of Owner
• Payment of Fees