flag
The flag state is the jurisdiction under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed, and is deemed the nationality of the vessel. A merchant vessel can only be registered in one jurisdiction, but may change the register.

The flag state has the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under its flag, including those relating to inspection, certification, and issuance of safety and pollution prevention documents. As a ship operates under the laws of its flag state, these laws are applicable if the ship is involved in an admiralty case.

CYPRUS

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: €6,87/gross ton over 10000
CHANGE OF NAME: No Data
RE-REGISTRATION: Yes
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: €170.86 + €6,83/gross ton over 10000
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: 25 years
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: €1,71/gross ton over 10000
DUAL REGISTRATION: Bareboat, voyage and time charter.
DELETION FEES: /
ADVANTAGES:
· Vessels can be registered if more than 50% of the shares of the ship are owned by Cypriot citizens or by companies incorporated in Cyprus, , in which the controlling interest is vested in Cypriots
· No income tax on the profits earned or dividends paid by a Cyprus Shipping Company which owns ships under the Cyprus flag and operates in international waters, or on the salaries of the crew on such ships

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GERMANY

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: €25 (Certificate of Registry) + €106
CHANGE OF NAME: /
RE-REGISTRATION: €25
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: Basic fee 1.000 EUR + 0,70 EUR per GT (max. 12.000)
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: /
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: ?
DUAL REGISTRATION: ?
ADVANTAGES:
· less idle times in ship operation
· Fewer port state controls
· High subsidies and reasonable fees
· Comprehensive social security for seafarers
· Reduced number of accidents at the shipboard workplace
· Local customer service and quality
· Shipping know-how of the German maritime cluster
· Legal certainty inland and abroad

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HONG KONG

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: HK$ 3,500/15,000
CHANGE OF NAME: $355
RE-REGISTRATION: /
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: HK$ 1,500/1,000NT - 77,500/24,000 NT
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: /
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: $355
DUAL REGISTRATION: Demise Charter
ADVANTAGES:
· Hong Kong-flagged ships have a 30% reduction in Chinese port dues
· The registration fee is the lowest among major shipping registers in terms of total cost for ships
· Apart from maintaining the fleet in shipshape, there are no other requirements, such as employment of local crew, etc.

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LIBERIA

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: $2,500
CHANGE OF NAME: Data Upon Request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: Data Upon Request
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: Data Upon Request
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Data Upon Request
DUAL REGISTRATION: Bareboat Charter
ADVANTAGES:
· The Liberian Registry does not require vessels to be constructed by a particular nation
· Manning requirements are based exclusively on competence, international recognition and safe operation, not on nationality
· The mortgage-recording regime of the Liberian Register is internationally recognized by banks from many jurisdictions

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MALTA

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: €115
CHANGE OF NAME: Data Upon request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: €625-1000/year
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: No Restrictions
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: €250
DUAL REGISTRATION: Bareboat Charter registration
ADVANTAGES:
· Ships may be registered in the name of legally constituted corporate entities irrespective of nationality, or by European Union citiziens
· Low company formation, ship registration and tonnage tax costs
· No restrictions on the nationality of the master, officers and crew, or on the sale or transfer of shares of a company owning Maltese ships
· No trading restrictions and, preferential treatment to Maltese ships in certain ports

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MARSHALL ISLANDS

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: $2,500
CHANGE OF NAME: $250
RE-REGISTRATION FEE: $1,750
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: $1,500/50,000 NT
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: 20 years
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP:
DUAL REGISTRATION:
Bareboat Charter
ADVANTAGES:
· Fast registration procedure
· Foreign-sourced income is tax-free
· All legal entities in the Republic – corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies – can be used for international business purposes
· No requirement for filing directors’ information
· Share capital can be expressed in any currency
· Quick procedure for company closure

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NORWAY

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: €57,95
CHANGE OF NAME: €286
RE-REGISTRATION: ?
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR : €1539-2257/year
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: /
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: €215
DUAL REGISTRATION: /
ADVANTAGES:
· NOR is a legal protection register in line with the official registration of real estate. Registration ensures approved ownership
· The legal protection you gain will contribute to ensure that only the registered owner can sell the vessel
· Registered vessels may be mortgaged
· Voluntary mortgages can only obtain legal protection by registration in the Ship Register
· The possibility for financing by a potential new owner may lead to a quicker sale of the vessel

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PANAMA

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE: $500-3000+
CHANGE OF NAME: Data Upon Request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: Data Upon Request
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: Data Upon Request
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Data Upon Request
DUAL REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
ADVANTAGES:
· There are no minimum tonnage requirements. Only vessels 20 years old or more must be inspected
· Anyone or any company or corporation from anywhere in the world can own a Panama registered maritime vessel
· Vessel owners who wish to transfer their registration from another country to Panama can do it. Panama does not require a new survey as long as the vessel has valid tonnage and safety certificates

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PORTUGAL

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: Data Upon Request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: Data Upon Request
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: Data Upon Request
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Data Upon Request
DUAL REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
ADVANTAGES:
· 24/7 availability
· Competitive pricing
· Online applications enabling ship owners to operate at maximum efficiency

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RUSSIA

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: Data Upon Request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: Data Upon Request
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: Data Upon Request
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Data Upon Request
DUAL REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
ADVANTAGES:
Since 2006, bareboat chartered ships may also be registered in the Russian International Register of Ships (RIRS), which allows the operators of such ships to benefit from a special tax regime, allowing exemptions from: corporate profits tax; corporate property tax, transport tax, social taxes on crew salaries and import value added tax and import duties. A ship which is permanently registered under a foreign flag may be granted the temporary right to fly the Russian flag.

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SINGAPORE

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: Data Upon Request
RE-REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: $100/500TN - $10.000-50.000
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: Data Upon Request
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: Data Upon Request
DUAL REGISTRATION: Data Upon Request
ADVANTAGES:
· Adoption of international standards
· The SRS is on the White List of key port state control regimes, with a dedicated flag state control unit (FSCU) that actively monitors, identifies and carry out enforcement actions on Singapore ships
· Choice of eight classification societies
· Flexibility on crew nationality
· Profits derived from the operation of a Singapore vessel are exempt from Singapore income tax

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TUVALU

REGISTER: Open
REGISTRATION FEE:
RE-REGISTRATION:
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR:
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE:
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP:
DUAL REGISTRATION: Bareboat Charter registration
ADVANTAGES:
· No restriction on nationality of the owners
· No restriction on the nationality of the officers or crew
· Special discounted fees vessel registration

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UNITED KINGDOM

REGISTER: National
REGISTRATION FEE: £153
RE-REGISTRATION: £153
TONNAGE TAX/YEAR: ?
MAXIMUM SHIP AGE: /
TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP: £150
DUAL REGISTRATION:
Bareboat Charter
ADVANTAGES:
· it’s one of the top performing flags on the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU ‘white lists’
· it’s included on the US Coastguard’s Qualship 21 initiative

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