Ship & Yacht Registration

Our team has expertise in advising on matters regarding the ship & yacht registrations under the Montenegrin flag. Our services include but are not limited to new vessel registration, change of ownership registration, changes of vessel name, mortgage registration, mortgage release registration, renewals, obtaining of Transcript of Registry.

Procedure for registering a ship with the Montenegrin Register of Merchant Ships

Law on the manner of registration of ships, floating objects and installations for the production of hydrocarbons in the registers and on real rights on ships and installations for the production of hydrocarbons (Official Gazzete of Montenegro no.34/2019) (the „Law“) provides a comprenhensive set of rules governing procedure for registration of ships in the respective registers.

Pursuant to the Law, depending on types of ships, the following registries of ships exist and are maintained by Harbour Master’s Offices:

- Register of merchant ships;

- Register of fishing vessels;

- Register of ships in public service;

For ships under construction there is a Registry of ships under construction.

The following ships can be registered with the Montenegrin Register of ships:

1) a ship that is partially owned by citizen of Montenegro;

2) a ship that is wholly or partly owned by a citizen of a Member State of the European Union if the company or manager is a legal entity registered in Montenegro;

3) a ship that is partially owned by a legal entity with its registered office in Montenegro;

4) a ship that is wholly or partly owned by a legal entity established in a Member State of the European Union if the company or manager is a legal entity established in Montenegro;

5) a ship that is wholly or partly owned by a citizen of a Member State of the European Union or a legal entity established in accordance with the regulations of a Member State of the European Union and established in a Member State of the European Union, provided that the ship is operated from a representative office in Montenegro;

6) a ship that is owned by a foreign natural person, with its residence outside Montenegro or outside the Member State of the European Union, if the company or manager is a legal entity with its registered office in Montenegro;

7) owned by a foreign legal entity with a registered office outside Montenegro or outside a Member State of the European Union, if the company or shipowner is a legal entity with a registered office in a Member State of the European Union and that company or manager  has a representative office in Montenegro.

Further and in accordance with Article 6, para. 3 of the Law, a ship which is entirely owned by a natural or legal person who is a Montenegrin citizen with residence or registered seat in Montenegro must be registered with the Montenegrin Register (compulsory registration). 

All records concerning a ship are kept within the respective registry. Such records include all the encumbrances over the ship and the rights acquired in respect of these encumbrances, ship lease, time charters, pre-emption rights and other restrictions on ship’s disposal.

It is worth noting that there are no specific requirements reletated to the age of the vessel qualifying for registration in Montenegrin Register of Ships.

The procedure for registration it is to be initiated by the Owners of the vessel or by her managers or operators, as the case may be. Furthermore, it should be noted that the application for registration must be filed with Commercial Court in Podgorica through Harbour Master’s Office. The procedure for registration is usually completed within four or five working days.

The documents required for permanent registration of a ship are as follows:

- Proof of ownership (Bill of Sale);

- Excerpt from the registry of commercial entities for applicant who is a legal entity or document proving fulfilment of the nationality requirements for applicant who is a natural person;

- Resolution on the ship’s name, sign and port of registry;

- Certificate on ship’s seaworthiness;

- International Tonnage Certificate;

- Resolution on the ship’s calls sign according to the International Code of Signals, if applicable;

- Deletion certificate issued by a foreign register, where applicable;

- A written statement from the shipowner to transfer liability for the management of the ship to the company, if the shipowner is not the company,

- Compulsory third party liability insurance policy of the owner, i.e. operator of the ship, in accordance with the law, as well as a copy of the passenger insurance policy if it is a passenger ship.

Procedure for registering a yacht with the Montenegrin Register of Yachts

The Law on Yachts of Montenegro regulates nationality, identification and inscription of yachts in the Register of Yachts as well as entering, staying and leaving of yachts into Montenegrin territorial waters, and rights and responsibilities when chartering the yachts.

Yacht, defined as vessels intended for sport and leisure, use for private purposes or business activity, of more than 7 meters in length, intended for longer stays at sea may be registered with Montenegrin Register of Yachts kept by Maritime Safety Department of Montenegro - Register of Yachts Division.

The following yachts qualify for the registration with the Montenegrin Register of Yachts:

- a yacht wholly or partially owned by a Montenegrin citizen or a legal entity with its headquarters in Montenegro;

- a yacht owned by a foreign citizen or a foreign legal entity;

- a bareboat chartered yacht may be also registered with the Montenegrin Register of Yachts in favour of her lessee (charterer) and subject to written consent of her owner.

Provided that a yacht is wholly owned by a Montenegrin citizen or a legal entity with its headquarters in Montenegro she must be registered with the Montenegrin Register of Yachts (mandatory registration);