LAWS OF TUVALU
2008 Revised Edition

MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS

CAP. 48.28.2

Arrangement of Regulations

Regulation

PART I - PRELIMINARY

1 Citation
2 Interpretation

PART II - MARKING

3 Marking of ship
4 Details of marking

PART III - REGISTRATION

5 Application for registration
6 Declaration of ownership
7 Registration
8 Certificate of registry
9 Provisional certificate of registry

PART IV – CHANGES AND TRANSFERS

10 Change in ownership
11 Registry of alterations
12 Bill of sale
13 Declaration of transfer
14 Transmissions

PART V – MORTGAGES

15 Mortgage
16 Discharge of mortgage
17 Transfer of mortgage
18 Transmission of interest in mortgage

PART VI - MANAGING OWNER

19 Managing Owner

PART VII – CHANGE OF NAME

20 Change of name

PART VIII – FEES

21 Fees

SCHEDULE

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
 DECLARATION OF OWNERSHIP
 CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY
 PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY 
 BILL OF SALE 
 DECLARATION OF TRANSFER 
 DECLARATION OF TRANSMISSION
 MORTGAGE 
 DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE 
 TRANSFER OF MORTGAGE 
 DECLARATION OF TRANSMISSION OF MORTGAGE 
 REGISTRATION OF MANAGING OWNER 
 APPLICATION TO CHANGE NAME OF SHIP 

Supporting Documents 
ENDNOTES 

____________________

MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS

MADE UNDER SECTION 141 OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT

PART I - PRELIMINARY

1 Citation 

These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Registration) Regulations. 

2 Interpretation 

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires — 

"the Act" means the Merchant Shipping Act;1

"Registrar" means the Registrar of Ships; 

"section" means the relevant section of the Act.

PART II - MARKING

3 Marking of ship 

In terms of section 12 a ship shall be marked on — 

	(a) each side of her bow by her name; 
	
	(b) her stern, by her name followed by the port of registry name Funafuti; and 

(c) each side of her stern and of her stern post by a scale of decimetres or of metres and decimetres denoting her draught of water. 

4 Details of marking 

	(1) The marking referred to in regulation 3 (a) and (b) shall be in — 
	
	(a) white or yellow letters on a dark ground; or 
	
	(b) black letters on a light ground, being letters of a height of not less than one decimetre and of proportionate breadth. 
	
	(2) The marking referred to in regulation 3 (c) shall be — 
	
	(a) in white or yellow figures on a dark ground; or 
	
	(b) in black figures on a light ground, 
	
	being figures that are — 
	
	(c) welded on or cut into the ship; 
	
	(d) of a height of not less than one decimetre and of proportionate breadth; 
	
	(e) where the scale is in decimetres, at each interval of two decimetres; and 
	
	(f) where the scale is in metres and decimetres, at each metre interval and at each intervening two decimetre interval. 
	
	(3) In the case of figures denoting the scale of draught of a ship — 
	
	(a) the capital letter 'M' shall be placed after each metre figure in the manner and style of each metre figure; 
	
	(b) the topmost figure of the scale shall show — 
	
	(i) the metre; and 
	
	(ii) except where that figure marks a full metre interval. the decimetre, denoted by the figure; and 
	
	(c) the lower line of each figure shall coincide with the draught line denoted by each figure. 

PART III - REGISTRATION

5 Application for registration 

	(1) In terms of sections 8 and 13, an application for registration of a ship shall be in Form 1 in the Schedule. 
	
	(2) Subject to sub-regulation (3), an application under sub-regulation (1) shall be accompanied by — 

(a) a certificate signed by the builder of the ship and containing — 
	
	(i) a description of the ship; 
	
	(ii) the estimated tonnage of the ship; 

(iii) the date and place of construction of the ship; and 

(iv) the name of the person (if any) on whose account the ship was built; 
	
	(b) where the ship has been registered under a law of a country other than Tuvalu, evidence that registration in that country has ceased; 
	
	(c) evidence that the applicant is the owner of the ship; 
	
	(d) a declaration of ownership; and 
	
	(e) the fee payable in terms of regulation 21, 

and shall include a list of not less than three alternative names, numbered in order of preference, under which the ship is proposed to be registered. 

(3) Where a certificate referred to in sub-regulation (2)(a) cannot be obtained the applicant shall — 

	(a) make a declaration to that effect; and 
	
	(b) annex the declaration to the application under sub-regulation (1) . 

6 Declaration of ownership 

A declaration of ownership under section 14 shall be in Form 2 in the Schedule. 

7 Registration 

	(1) Where the Registrar is satisfied under section 15(1) that a ship may be registered and on payment of the prescribed fee under regulation 21, he shall — 
	
	(a) allot a registry number to the ship; and 
	
	(b) enter into the Register — 
	
	(i) the registry number so allotted; 
	
	(ii) the name of the ship; 
	
	(iii) such particulars of the construction or origin of the ship as appear to him to be relevant; 
	
	(iv) the name and description of each owner of the ship; and 
	
	(v) the proportions in which the owners, if more than one, own the ship; and 
	
	(c) grant a certificate of registry in respect of the ship. 
	
	(2) On registration of a ship the Registrar shall retain — 

(a) the certificate of the builder; 

	(b) any evidence as to title to the ship which was annexed to the application for registration; 
	
	(c) the declaration of ownership; and 
	
	(d) any other document or certificate which he considers should be so retained. 

8 Certificate of registry 

A certificate of registry of a ship under section 16 shall be in Form 3 in the Schedule. 

9 Provisional certificate of registry 

A provisional certificate of registry of a ship under section 18 shall be in Form 4 in the Schedule. 

PART IV – CHANGES AND TRANSFERS

10 Change in ownership 

Where a change occurs in the registered ownership of a ship and is notified to the Registrar under section 20, he shall — 

	(a) enter into the Register the details of the change; and 
	
	(b) endorse, or cause to be endorsed, upon the certificate of registry of the ship the details so entered. 

11 Registry of alterations 

Where under section 22 the Registrar causes the alteration of a ship to be registered, he shall enter into the Register — 

	(a) reference to the new tonnage certificate of the altered ship; and 
	
	(b) the number of the new certificate of registry granted under section 22 (5). 

12 Bill of sale 

A bill of sale under section 23 shall be in Form 5 in the Schedule. 

13 Declaration of transfer 

A declaration of transfer under section 24 shall be in Form 6 in the Schedule. 

14 Transmissions 

A declaration of a transmission under section 26 shall be in Form 7 in the Schedule. 

PART V - MORTGAGES

15 Mortgage 

A mortgage under section 30 shall be in Form 8 in the Schedule. 

16 Discharge of mortgage 

A discharge of mortgage under section 31 shall be in Form 9 in the Schedule. 

17 Transfer of mortgage 

A transfer of mortgage under section 34 shall be in Form 10 in the Schedule. 

18 Transmission of interest in mortgage 

A declaration of transmission of interest in mortgage under section 35 shall be in Form 11 in the Schedule. 

PART VI - MANAGING OWNER

19 Managing Owner 

The registration under section 45 of the name and address of a ship's managing owner, ship's husband or other person, or of a change in that name and address, shall be made in Form 12 in the Schedule. 

PART VII – CHANGE OF NAME

20 Change of name 

	(1) Where the owner of a ship that is registered under the Act seeks to change the name of the ship under section 46(2), he may apply to the Registrar. 
	
	(2) An application under sub-regulation (1) shall be in Form 13 in the Schedule. 
	
	(3) Where the Registrar approves an application under this regulation, he shall — 

	(a) notify the applicant; 
	
	(b) enter the new name of the ship into the Register; and 
	
	(c) cause the new name of the ship to be endorsed on the certificate of registry of the ship. 

PART VIII - FEES

21 Fees 

	(1) In this regulation, "the length of the ship" means the length of the ship recorded in the tonnage certificate. 
	
	(2) Subject to sub-regulation (3), the fee payable on the registration of a ship is $10 for every metre, or part of a metre, in the length of ship. 
	
	(3) The minimum fee payable on registration of a ship is $200. 
	
	(4) The fee payable on lodgement of Form 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 is $50. 
	
	(5) No fees are payable under this regulation in respect of a Government ship. 

________________

SCHEDULE

FORMS

FORM 1 - Regulation 5(1)

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION

(sections .8 & 13)

To: The Registrar of Ships, Funafuti, Tuvalu 

1. I/We*
am/are* owner(s)* of share(s) 
in    (name of ship) 

2. I/We* hereby apply for registration of the above described ship.

3. In support of this application I/We* attach the following: —

(a) builder's certificate;* 

(b) evidence that previous registration has ceased;* 

(c) evidence of my/our* ownership 

(d) declaration of ownership (Form 2)

4. The proposed registry name of the ship is 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(alternatives in order of preference)

5. I/We* enclose the prescribed fee under regulation 21 of

$ ..................................* 

............................................... ................................................... 
Signature(s) of Applicant(s) 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

___________________

FORM 2 - Regulation 6

DECLARATION OF OWNERSHIP

	(section 14) 	
I 	make this declaration in 		
respect of the ownership of . 		
	(name of ship) 	
I declare as follows: — 		

1. I am a person authorised under the Common Seal of 

(in this declaration called the 'corporation') to make declarations on behalf of the corporation.* 

2. +I am a citizen of Tuvalu (or)*

The corporation is — 

(a) established by an Act of Parliament of Tuvalu;* or 

(b) estab1ished/registered* in Tuvalu and has a place of business in Tuva1u.* 

3. +The ship — 

(a) is/will be* engaged in near coastal trade or Pacific region trade within the meaning of the Act; and 

(b) is/will be* manned by a crew, not less than 50% of whom are citizens of Tuvalu. 

4..The above-general description of the ship is correct and lithe corporation am/is* entitled to be registered — 

(a) as owner of .............................share(s) in the ship and/or* 

(b) as joint owner(s) with several other persons whose names are hereunder written, of ....................... share(s) in the ship. 

Name(s) and address(es) of Joint Owner(s) and Number of Share(s) 

5. Other than the share(s) described in Paragraph 4 above the shares in the ship are owned
as follows: — 

Name of Owner .

Address of Owner . 

Number of Shares . 

6. ++To the best of my knowledge and belief no person or corporation other than a person
or corporation that is a qualified person as defined in the Act is entitled as owner to any 
legal or beneficial interest in the ship.

7. The ship was constructed at ........................................on .

8. The ship is not registered in any other country. 

9. I believe that all the owners of the ship are of good repute. 

I,, 

do solemnly and sincerely declare that all information and particulars given in the above the true and correct, AND I MAKE this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the statements contained therein to be true and correct in every particular . 

.................................. (SIGNATURE)

DECLARED AT the........ day of ................................20..........
 in terms of section 131 of the Act before me 

(name)

(address)

being the Registrar of Ships/a magistrate/a notary public/a Commissioner for Oaths/a diplomatic representative of Tuvalu.* 

....................................... 
(Signature of person taking declaration) 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 
+ Strike out 2 or 3 if not applicable. 
++ Strike out 6 if application for registration made under section 8(2). 

______________

FORM 3 - Regulation 8

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY

(section 26).

NO: ..............

Name of Ship:
Registry No:
Registry Dimensions: Length ..............................metres Breadth ......................metres 
Number of Decks:
Number of Bu1kheads:
Framework and Description of Ship: 

Tonnage of Ship:	Cubic Metres	Tons	
Gross:	............................ 	............................	
Net:	............................	............................	

Tonnage Certificate No: 
I hereby certify that the above description of . 
Registry No is in 

accordance with the Register Book held at Funafuti and that the person{s) registered as owner(s) is/are* as follows 

Name{s) and address(es) of owner(s)

No. of shares:

REGISTRAR OF SHIPS ............................................

DATE:......................................

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

______________

FORM 4 - Regulation 9

PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY

(section 18)

Name of Ship:

Previous Port of Registry:

Previous Registry (or equivalent) No: 

Tonnage of Ship:	Cubic Metres	Tons	
Gross:	............................ 	............................	
Net:	............................	............................	

Name of Builder: 

Place of Construction: 

Registry Dimensions: Length ..............................metres Breadth ......................metres 

Number of Decks:

Number of Bulkheads: 

Framework and Description of Ship: 

Name(s) and address(es) of owner(s)

No. of Shares 
Name of Master: 
I hereby grant this provisional certificate of registry in respect of the above described ship. 

..................................................... 
Registrar of Ships/Diplomatic Officer/Authorised Person 

DATE:.......................................

______________

FORM 5 - Regulation 12

BILL OF SALE

(section 23)

I/We* . 
being registered as owner(s) of share(s) 
in       (name of ship) 
Registry Number         in consideration of 

paid to me/us* by . 

the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do hereby transfer to the said ............................... all my/our* estate or interest in .................share(s) in the said ship. 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We have hereunto subscribed my/our* name(s)* 
at ....................................................the ………………..day of……………. 20....

SIGNED in my presence by
the said ................................................ 

who is/are* personally known to me	...........................................................
Transferor(s)	
		
ACCEPTED		
SIGNED in my presence by
the said ................................................

who is/are* personally known to me	...........................................................
Transferee(s)	

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

_____________

FORM 6 - Regulation 13

DECLARATION OF TRANSFER

(section 24)

I        make this declaration in
 respect of the ownership of        (name 
of ship) Registry No: 

1. I am a person authorised under the Seal of 

(in this declaration called the 'corporation') to make declarations on behalf of the corporation.* 

2. +1 am a citizen of Tuvalu

(or)*

The corporation is — 

(a) established by an Act of Parliament of Tuva1u;* or 

(b) estab1ished/registered* in Tuvalu and has a place of business in Tuva1u* 

3. I/the corporation* am/is* entitled to be registered — 

(a) as owner of ............................share(s) in the above described ship and/or* 

(b) as joint owner, with the several other persons whose names are hereunder written, of ...................................................................share(s)* in the ship.

Name(s) and address(es) of Joint Owner(s) and Number of Shares 

4. +To the best of my knowledge and belief no person or corporation other than a person or corporation that is a qualified person as defined in the Act is entitled as owner to any legal or beneficial interest in the ship. 

I., 

do solemnly and sincerely declare that all information and particulars given in the above are true and correct, AND I MAKE this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the statements contained therein to be true and correct in every particular . 

.................................. (SIGNATURE)

DECLARED AT the........ day of ................................20..........
in terms of section 131 of the Act before me

(name)

(address)

being the Registrar of Ships/a magistrate/a notary public/a Commissioner for Oaths/a diplomatic representative of Tuvalu.* 

.......................................................... 
(Signature of person taking declaration)

Fee $50 

* Strike out which ever is not applicable.
++ Strike out in the case of the transmission of a ship registered under section 8(2). 

_____________________

FORM 7 - Regulation 14

DECLARATION OF TRANSMISSION

(section 26)

I         make this declaration
in respect of the ownership of      (name
of ship) Registry Number

I declare that — 

1. I am a person authorised under the Common Seal of 

(in this declaration called the 'corporation'), to make declarations on behalf of the corporation.* 

2. I am a citizen of Tuvalu

(or)*

The corporation is

(a) established by an Act of Parliament of Tuvalu; or 

(b) established/registered* in Tuvalu and has a place of business in Tuvalu* 

The ship is engaged in near coastal trade or Pacific region trade within the meaning of the Act and is manned by a crew not less than 50% of whom are Tuvaluan citizens. 

3. By transmission from

I/the corporation* am/is* entitled to be registered — 

(a) as owner of ..........................share(s) in the above described ship; and/or*

(b) as joint owner, with the several other persons whose names are hereunder written, of ................................................................share(s) in the ship.

Name(s) and address(es) of Joint Owner(s) and Number of Share(s) 

I ...........................................................................of 

do solemnly and sincerely declare that all information and particulars given in the above are true and correct, AND I MAKE this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the statements contained therein to be true and correct in every particular . 

.................................. (SIGNATURE)

DECLARED AT the........ day of ................................20.......... 

in terms of section 131 of the Act before me

 (name)

 (address) 

being the Registrar of Ships/a magistrate/a notary public/a Commissioner for Oaths/a diplomatic representative of Tuvalu.* 

.......................................................... 
(Signature of person taking declaration) 

Fee $50 
* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

__________________

FORM 8 - Regulation 15

MORTGAGE

(section 30

I/We*   being

the registered owner(s) of share(s)

in (name of ship )

Registry No     in consideration of

(                   )

lent to me/us* by

the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do for the purpose of securing the payment in the names hereinafter mentioned of the said principal sum and interest thereon, hereby mortgage to the said

all my/our*

estate or interest in    share(s) in the
said ship and for the consideration aforesaid I/We*

do hereby convenant with the

 said as follows: — 

Firstly to pay to him/them* the said sum of

 together with interest thereon at the rate of 

percent per annum on the ........................day of 

..........................................................next; and

Secondly that if the said principal sum is not paid on the said day I/We* will, during such time as the same or any part thereof remains unpaid, pay to him/them* interest on the whole or such part thereof as may for the time being remain unpaid, at the rate of percent per annum, by equal half yearly payments on the day of in every year; and 

Lastly that I/We* have power to mortgage in manner aforesaid the above-mentioned shares, and that the same are free from incumbrances [save as appears by the registry of the said ship *] [or insert convenants as appropriate] 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We have hereunto subscribed my/our* name(s)* 
at ...............................................................................................the day of 

 20............................................ 

SIGNED in my presence by
 ...........................................................
Mortgagor)
 the said ................................................

 who is/are* personally known to me 

ACCEPTED 

SIGNED in my presence by
...........................................................
Mortgagee
 the said ................................................ 

who is/are* personally known to me 

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

________________

FORM 9 - Regulation 16

DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE

(section 31)

Registered No. of Mortgage

Date of Mortgage

Name, Registry No. of Ship

In consideration of the Mortgagor having performed all the conditions required by him to be performed I/We* hereby discharge Mortgage Registered No 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We have hereunto subscribed my/our* name(s)* 
at ...............................................................................................the       day of 

 20............................................

SIGNED in my presence by 
...........................................................
Mortgagee)
 the said ................................................ 

who is/are* personally known to me 

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

_______________

FORM 10 - Regulation 17

TRANSFER OF MORTGAGE

(section 34)

Registered No. of Mortgage 

Date of Mortgage 

Name, Registry No. of Ship 

I/We*    in consideration
of   (                                   )

paid to me/us* by            the receipt of which

I/we hereby acknowledge, do hereby transfer to the said the whole of

my/our* interest in Mortgage Registered No

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF I/We have hereunto subscribed my/our* name(s)*
 at ...............................................................................................the                  day of 
 20............................................ 

SIGNED in my presence by
...........................................................
Transferor(s)
the said ................................................ 

who is/are* personally known to me 

ACCEPTED

SIGNED in my presence by 
...........................................................
Transferee(s)
the said ................................................ 

who is/are* personally known to me

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

_____________

FORM 11 - Regulation 18

DECLARATION OF TRANSMISSION OF MORTGAGE

(section 35)

I/We*   make this declaration

in respect of the interest of …………… in Mortgage Registered No …. over the security of ............... share(s)* in ..........................(name of ship) Registry No. of Ship

I declare that: 

1. I am a person authorised under the Common Seal of
 (hereinafter called the 'corporation') to make declarations on behalf of the corporation.* 

2. The circumstances in which the interest of the said
is transmitted to me/us/the corporation* are as follows: — 

I/We* attach the following: 
I, ...................................................................of      do 

solemnly and sincerely declare that all information and particulars given in the above are true and correct, AND I MAKE this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the statements contained therein to be true and correct in every particular . 

.................................. (SIGNATURE) 

DECLARED AT the........ day of ................................20..........
in terms of section 131 of the Act before me

(name)

(address)

being the Registrar of Ships/a magistrate/a notary public/a Commissioner for Oaths/a diplomatic representative of Tuvalu.* 

.......................................................... 
(Signature of person taking declaration) 

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

______________

FORM 12 - Regulation 19

REGISTRATION OF MANAGING OWNER

(section 45).

To: The Registrar of Ships 

Funafuti, Tuvalu

 Name of Ship

Registry No

I/We*   (name)'

 of     (address) 

(telephone)

 (telex) 

am/are* the managing owner/ship's husband/person entrusted by or on behalf of the owner with the management* of the above described ship . 

..................................... (SIGNATURE) 

......................................... (DATE) 

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

_________________

FORM 13 - Regulation 20(2)

APPLICATION TO CHANGE NAME OF SHIP

(section 46 (2))

To: The Registrar of Ships 

 Funafuti, Tuvalu 

Name of Ship 

Registry No 

1. I/We* 

am/are* owner(s) of    share(s) 

in the above described ship. 

2. I/We* hereby apply to change the name of the above described ship. 

3. In order of preference the name by which I/We* wish the above described ship to be known in future is: — 

(1) . 

(2) 

(3) 

..................................................... (APPLICANT(S)) 

............................................ (DATE) 

Fee $50 

* Strike out whichever is not applicable. 

ENDNOTES 
________________
1 Cap. 48.28