About Flag State Registration

Ship registration is the documentation and granting of nationality of a country to a ship. This proves ownership of the ship and allows it to sail internationally. Ships are required under international law to be registered in a country to represent its flag state. Once a ship is registered in a country, it is subject to the laws of that state, thus enforcing regulatory control over it. This control will include regular inspection, certification of the ship’s equipment and crew as well as issue safety and pollution prevention documents.

Procedure For Registration
Application for registration of a ship is subject to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 2013  and Registration of Ships Regulations 2014,  and shall be made in the following prescribed form:

1. In the case of individuals, the person requiring to be registered as owner shall make the application. If the owners are more than one person, one of them or more can make the application or by his or their agent. If the owner(s) of a ship a corporate body, the agent who is duly authorized by writing shall submit an application for registration;
2. The Registrar may demand proof of ownership to his or her satisfaction before proceeding with the registration of the ship; and
3. Other requirements for registration of ship includes a Declaration of Ownership. This provision mandates ship owners (individual or corporate body) to make a signed declaration of ownership of the ship as described in the tonnage certificate.

The declaration will be accompanied with the following documentation: 

1. Name and Address of Owner;
2. A statement of the time and place where the ship was built. If the ship was built outside The Gambia and the time and place are unknown; a statement to that effect should be provided. Additionally, for a ship previously registered outside The Gambia, a statement of the name by which it was registered must be provided; and
3. Ships intending to register in The Gambia must provide a statement of the number of shares and the owners of these shares.

Evidence to Be Produced on First Registration.
The following documents are required for Flag State Registration:

1. Declaration of Ownership;
2. Builder’s Certificate;
3. Bill of sale, where the ship is being purchased;
4. Copy of relevant Certificates issued by the previous Flag;
5. Deletion Certificate;
6. Evidence of freedom from encumbrance; and
7. Partnership arrangement/ joint agreement/ company registered in The Gambia.