The Gibraltar Commercial Ships Register is a Category 1 Red Ensign Register where all types of commercial vessels of unlimited tonnage can be registered under the British flag. Surveys can be carried out locally.
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Gibraltar is bound by all international conventions and agreements in relation to shipping and safety which have been ratified by the United Kingdom thus giving vessels registered in Gibraltar the same status as that of any other British registry.
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There are already many pleasure yachts and ships registered in Gibraltar and the advantages which this confers are considerable.

In practice the easiest way for a foreign national to register a vessel in Gibraltar is to use a Gibraltar company. This allows a person of any nationality to use the Gibraltar Registry of Ships or Registry of Pleasure Yachts and can also confer numerous tax advantages.
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However, as of right, the following persons and entities qualify to register in Gibraltar as long as they are the owners of a majority share in the vessels:  
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• British citizens, British Dependent Territories citizens, British overseas citizens, British subjects and British overseas nationals; persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 are British Nationals (Overseas);
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• Citizens of the Republic of Ireland;
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• Citizens of and companies registered in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA);
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• Citizens of the following countries:- (a) Argentina;(b) Aruba; (c) Bahrain; (d) Brazil; (e) the Canary Islands; (f) China; (g) the Faroe Islands; (h) Haiti; (i) Israel; (j) Japan; (k) Liberia; (l) Madeira; (m)the Marshall Islands; (n) Monaco; (o) Panama; (p) South Korea; (q) Switzerland;(r) Suriname; (s) the United Arab Emirates; (t) and the United States of America;
         
• Citizens of the following countries:- (a) Argentina;(b) Aruba; (c) Bahrain; (d) Brazil; (e) the Canary Islands; (f) China; (g) the Faroe Islands; (h) Haiti; (i) Israel; (j) Japan; (k) Liberia; (l) Madeira; (m)the Marshall Islands; (n) Monaco; (o) Panama; (p) South Korea; (q) Switzerland;(r) Suriname; (s) the United Arab Emirates; (t) and the United States of America;
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• Gibraltar Companies;
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• Foreign Maritime Entities(foreign entities which are authorised and have power to own and operate ships can under certain special circumstances qualify to register in Gibraltar).

Our firm is experienced in this field and we take care of all matters in connection with the registration of a yacht or ship in Gibraltar. The actual registration procedures are very quick.  However, obtaining survey reports and certificates from classification societies can take some time.

Gibraltar is a fully fledged British Category 1 Registry with the same status as any other British Registry. Yacht registration charges are highly competitive. Ship registration charges and annual tonnage taxes are also more favourable than in other British Registries. Yacht and Ship owners can, therefore, enjoy the prestige and advantages of registration in a Category 1 British Port whilst paying competitive rates.