Annual Report 2006/07

The Gibraltar Ship Register is a member of the Category I Red Ensign Group of the United Kingdom and United Kingdom dependency registers. The Category I Red Ensign Group now comprises the United Kingdom, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.

The advantages of registering a ship in Gibraltar are many, not least fiscal, membership of the Red Ensign Group and the benefits that derive from Gibraltar’s status as part of the European Community. The Gibraltar Ship Register is considered to be a Member States’ Register.

With the exception of fishing vessels, ships propelled by nuclear power and ships not classed with one of the recognised Classification Societies, the Register is open to all types of ships irrespective of size though ships over 20 years old will require special approval before being accepted.

Gibraltar recognises Lloyds Register of Shipping and the British Committees of American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd and Registro Italiano Navale – and it is to these Classification Societies that the issuing of certain Convention Certificates is delegated.

The Registry is being run on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar by its Maritime Administrator, who is also responsible for ship safety and compliance issues. Ship Statutory annual, intermediate or renewal surveys will be undertaken by a surveyor nominated or appointed by the Maritime Administrator. The Maritime Administrator or, a Surveyor nominated by him, will visit a registered ship once in every five years to survey its safety equipment and to conduct a general inspection to ensure that standards are being maintained.

Changes in Gibraltar legislation now permit a wider range of individuals or corporate bodies to be qualified persons eligible to own a registerable ship.

Information on registering a ship in Gibraltar can be obtained from the office of the Maritime Administrator, Telephone No: (350) 47771 or Telex No: (350) 47770.