Transport & Logistics

Register and operate a sea-going ship

If you operate sea-going passenger or cargo ships on coastal or international voyages, you must register the ship on the UK Ship Register, have it surveyed and certified by the MCA, operate a safety management system under the ISM Code, mark a load line, and meet the dangerous-goods, security and environmental regimes. This guide covers the regimes specific to sea-going ships, on top of the universal workplace duties in the spine guide. Crewing and seafarer certification are covered separately.

UK-wide
Guide summary

Register your UK commercial ship with the right part of the UK Ship Register. Ensure crew have medical certificates and training. Follow safety management rules for international voyages.

  • Register merchant ships with Part I (£153 for 5 years)
  • Small vessels under 24m use Part III (£35 for 5 manipul)
  • Seafarers need ENG1 medical certificate (£115 per employer)
  • Medical certs valid 2 years (1 year for 16-17)
  • Officers require Certificates of Competency every 5 years
  • Ships over 500 GT need Safe Manning Document
  • ISM Code requires safety certificates for international trips
  • DOC for companies valid 5 years with annual checks
  • SMC for ships valid 5 years with mid-term verification
  • Include cyber security in safety plans from 2021
On this page
UK-wide

Related guides in Health & Safety

Operating ships commercially from the UK means registering the vessel, keeping it surveyed and certified, and running it under international safety, security and environmental regimes. This guide covers the requirements for sea-going passenger and cargo ships on coastal and international voyages. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) administers UK maritime regulation and the UK Ship Register; these regimes apply across the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

The universal workplace duties (health and safety, insurance, equality and data protection) are in Set up and run a safe water transport operation, and crewing and seafarer certification are in Crewing and seafarer certification — start with those, then work through the ship regimes below.

A. Register the ship (UK Ship Register)

A commercially operated ship must be registered on the UK Ship Register, operated by the MCA, to fly the UK flag and obtain certificates. Part I registration covers larger merchant ships and allows a mortgage to be registered; the Small Ships Register covers vessels under 24 metres. You can also transfer registration between British maritime jurisdictions in the Red Ensign Group without losing your Official Number.

B. Survey and safety certification

Ships must be surveyed by the MCA or a recognised organisation and hold valid safety certificates before operating — passenger ships hold a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and the SOLAS construction, equipment and radio certificates; cargo ships hold the equivalent cargo-ship certificates. Surveys are periodic — typically annual, intermediate and renewal. Passenger ships carry additional duties on passenger counting, evacuation, life-saving appliances and damage stability.

C. Load line

Ships of 24 metres or more must be surveyed and marked with a load line and hold an International Load Line Certificate certifying minimum freeboard and reserve buoyancy for the trade and cargo carried.

D. ISM Code safety management

Passenger ships on international voyages, and cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and over on international voyages, must operate a Safety Management System under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and hold a Document of Compliance (company) and a Safety Management Certificate (ship), issued and audited by the MCA. Small domestic passenger ships use the Domestic Safety Management Code instead — see the inland and categorised-waters guide.

E. Carriage of dangerous goods (IMDG Code)

If you carry dangerous or harmful cargo, packaged and bulk dangerous goods must be classified, packed, marked, documented and stowed in accordance with the IMDG Code (SOLAS Chapter VII / MARPOL Annex III). This applies only where the operator carries dangerous or harmful cargo.

F. Maritime security (ISPS Code)

Ships and the port facilities they use on international voyages must meet the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code — a ship security assessment and plan, a Ship Security Officer, and an International Ship Security Certificate. The Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 underpins UK implementation.

G. Environmental compliance (MARPOL)

Ships must meet the MARPOL pollution-prevention regimes — including the sulphur limits on marine fuel and, for larger ships, ballast water management to control the transfer of invasive species.

H. Reporting marine accidents (MAIB)

Accidents, serious injuries and dangerous occurrences involving the ship must be reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), made under section 267 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 2012.

I. Tonnage Tax

Tonnage Tax is an alternative way to calculate Corporation Tax for qualifying shipping companies — tax based on the deemed profit by tonnage rather than commercial profit. It requires a ten-year commitment and that strategic and commercial management is in the UK, so it is not suitable for every business model.

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    What to do next

    Confirm the universal duties in the spine guide and the crewing and seafarer certification regime are in place, then complete the water transport compliance checklist for the sea-going ship items.

Official sources

Authoritative guidance for sea-going ship operators.