SHIP REGISTRATION

Ship registration is regulated by the Mauritius Merchant Shipping Act 1986 and the Mauritius Shipping (Amendment) Act 1992 which have been largely modeled on the British Merchant Shipping Act. Mauritius Merchant Shipping regulates the registration of ships in Mauritius. The legislative framework governing shipping business is seen to be very attractive for conducting shipping activities and ship registration. The administration of the Mauritius Open Ship Registry is under the responsibility of the Director of Shipping, Ministry of Trade and Shipping. The Home Port is Port Louis where the Head Office of the Registry is situated.
Eligibility of Ownerships

Mauritian ships are to be owned wholly by:

Owners

• Citizens of Mauritius
• Companies established under the laws of Mauritius which are citizens and having its registered office in Mauritius.
• Companies incorporated in Mauritius or incorporated abroad, provided they receive the approval of the relevant authorities
• Category 1 Global Business Companies, provided their objects are confined to the registering of ships under the Mauritian Flag and that their shipping activities are carried out outside Mauritius.

Ships

 1. Age

• At the time of registration, the age of the boat shall not exceed 15 years since the date of 1st construction.

2. Approved Societe

 Ships must maintain class with one of the classification societes as approved by the Director of shipping. The Societes which are currently approved by the Director are as follows:

1. American Bureau of Shipping
2. Indian Register of Shipping
3. Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
4. Korean Register of Shipping
5. Germanischer Llyod

3. International Maritime Conventions

• Ships must provide valid certificates showing companies with International

4. Third Party Liability Insurance

• Ships must show to the Director of Shipping as proof (certificate of entry, cover note or similar documents) of 3rd Party Liability Insurance.

The registration procedures involve the formation of a Company licensed by the Financial Services Commission to hold a Category 1 Global Business Licence and the registration of the vessel itself with the Ministry of Trade and Shipping.

The following needs to be provide on the corporate body for the Ship registration:

1. The corporate of the Certificate of Incorporation duly certified by the company’s director or company’s secretary.
2. Certified copy of the Board Resolutions on its board of directors authorizing a director on the company secretary or an original Power of Attorney signed by a director authorizing one or more named persons to effect registration of the Ship in Mauritius.

Why register a Ship in Mauritius?

• Offshore Ship owning companies are exemption from Mauritius taxes / exchanges control.
• All personnel working on board, a Mauritius Ship is exempt from the Mauritius income tax.
• Mauritius offers political, economical and social stability.
• Good infrastructure and communication systems.
• Strategic location and time zone.
• Goof offshore company legislation based on English Company Law.
  

Aircraft registration

The Civil aviation Act 1974 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 2007 govern the registration, leasing and mortgages of aircraft. The application for Aircraft registration, financing, leasing, mortgaging needs to be done through the Financial Services Commission while matters relating to technical verification aviation security and safety issues is done by the Civil aviation Department (CAD)

Benefits of the Mauritius International Aircraft Registry

• Tax efficient structures and regimes for transfer of assets or diversion of income stream.
• Flexible but prudent aeronautical regulations ensuring international respect and preserving aircraft resale values and ease of re-export.
• Signatory to several conventions such as the Chicago ICAO convention, the Geneva Convention on International Recognition of Rights in Aircraft and the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitration.
• 100% accelerated depreciation rate in the first year of the aircraft.
• Existence of comprehensive and innovative aircraft and corporate management arrangement and other support elements including banks, lawyers and accountants.
• Excellent asset security with flexible and innovative financing and leasing structures provided under the proposed Foreign Aviation Equipment (Ownership and Security Interests) Registration legislation.

General Requirements

• Submission of proof ownership, chartering or leasing.
• Yearly renewal of certificate of airworthiness.
• Submission of certificate of insurance and title deed for aircraft-bill of sale.
• Obligation not to operate air transport services with Mauritius as its base of operation.
• The aircraft shall not concurrently be registered in another country and shall not be subject to any un-discharged mortgage.
• Base of operation to operate air transport services should not be Mauritius.

Technical Requirements

The CAD is responsible for all matters relating to the technical verification of foreign aviation equipment.
The application should satisfy the following technical requirements:

• Flight operations
• Airworthiness
• Aircraft ratio station licence

The CAD may make such arrangements for the continued airworthiness of the aircraft and the surveillance of flight operations.

Registration of Lease

Any type of lease whether finance or an operating may be registered on foreign aviation equipment.

Cancellation, Amendment or Deregistration of the Register

• The registration will be cancelled where there has been a change of ownership, change in the particulars of application, destruction or permanent withdrawal from use of the aircraft.
• Amendment may be brought to the Register to update or correct details with regards to changes in ownership or otherwise
• Application for cancellation, amendment or deregistration may be in the form of a letter accompanied by a certified copy of the Board of directors’ resolution