Is Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations still in force?

Yes — Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations is currently in force.

How many regulations does Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations have?

Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations contains 34 regulations.

/akn/sg/act/sub_leg/1995/MSA-RG7

Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations

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Type: Subsidiary Legislation
Status: In force
Enacted: 1995
Sections: 34

Quick answer

About this subsidiary legislation

Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation MSA-RG7 1995, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1995.

Part I

CONDITIONS FOR REGISTRY OF SHIPS

Regulation 2

Definitions of this Part

In this Part —“age”, in relation to a ship, means the difference between —

(a)

the year in which its keel was laid, or was at a similar stage of construction; and

(b)

the year in which it is to be registered as a Singapore ship;“citizen of Singapore” includes a permanent resident of Singapore;“foreign owned ship” means a ship that is not locally owned;“local company” means a company in which all or a majority of the shares are owned by persons who are —

(a)

citizens of Singapore; or

(b)

companies in which, or which have holding companies in which, all or a majority of the shares are owned by persons who are citizens of Singapore or local companies.

Definition

“age”, in relation to a ship, means the difference between —

(a)

the year in which its keel was laid, or was at a similar stage of construction; and

(b)

the year in which it is to be registered as a Singapore ship;

Definition

“citizen of Singapore” includes a permanent resident of Singapore;

Definition

“foreign owned ship” means a ship that is not locally owned;

Definition

“local company” means a company in which all or a majority of the shares are owned by persons who are —

(a)

citizens of Singapore; or

(b)

companies in which, or which have holding companies in which, all or a majority of the shares are owned by persons who are citizens of Singapore or local companies.

Regulation 3

Owners of ships registered under Part II of Act

The following persons are qualified to be owners of ships which are to be registered under Part II of the Act:

(a)

citizens of Singapore; and

(b)

bodies corporate incorporated in Singapore.

Regulation 4

Closure of registry of certain tugs, barges and ships

The registry of a tug or a barge, or a ship of less than 1,600 gross tons and owned wholly or partly by —

(a)

a local company shall be closed if all or a majority of the shares in the company or its holding company, if any, are; or

(b)

a citizen of Singapore shall be closed if any share in the tug or barge or ship is,transferred to a person who is not a citizen of Singapore or another local company.

Regulation 5

Conditions for registry

Amended byS 104/2004 wef 05/03/2004

Subregulation 1

A ship, other than a tug or barge referred to in paragraph (2), owned wholly or partly by a company shall not be registered unless the company has a minimum paid-up capital of $50,000.

Subregulation 2

A tug or barge owned wholly or partly by a local company which owns only tugs or barges or both shall not be registered unless each of the local company and its holding company, if any, has —

(a)

where the value of the tug or barge is not less than $100,000, a minimum paid-up capital of —

(i)

10% of the value of the tug or barge; or

(ii)

$50,000,whichever is the less; or

(b)

where the value of the tug or barge is less than $100,000, a minimum paid-up capital of $10,000.

Subregulation 3

A bareboat charter ship shall not be registered by a bareboat charterer which —

(a)

is a company; and

(b)

is not the registered owner of any Singapore ship,unless the bareboat charterer has a minimum paid-up capital of $50,000.

Subregulation 4

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any ship referred to in that paragraph which is owned wholly or partly by a company may be registered if the company, or any related corporation of the company —

(a)

has registered, applied to register or informed the Registrar that it will apply to register —

(i)

2 ships having an aggregate tonnage of at least 40,000 net tons;

(ii)

3 ships having an aggregate tonnage of at least 30,000 net tons;

(iii)

4 ships having an aggregate tonnage of at least 20,000 net tons; or

(iv)

5 or more ships having any aggregate tonnage; and

(b)

has satisfied such terms and conditions as the Registrar may impose.

Subregulation 5

Where —

(a)

a ship referred to in paragraph (1) —

(i)

is owned wholly or partly by a company that does not satisfy the minimum paid-up capital requirement therein; and

(ii)

is registered by virtue of paragraph (4); and

(b)

any application referred to in paragraph (4)(a) —

(i)

is not made within the time allowed by the Registrar; or

(ii)

is not granted,the Registrar may direct the company to satisfy the minimum paid-up capital requirement, and if the company fails to comply with the Registrar’s direction within such time as the Registrar may specify, the registry of the ship shall be closed by the Minister.

Subregulation 6

Where —

(a)

any company which is required to have the minimum paid-up capital under paragraph (1) for the registry of any ship referred to in that paragraph; or

(b)

any local company or holding company which is required to have the minimum paid-up capital under paragraph (2) for the registry of any tug or barge referred to in that paragraph,reduces its paid-up capital below that minimum, the registry of the ship, tug or barge, as the case may be, shall be closed by the Minister.

Subregulation 7

Paragraph (2) shall apply to a local company only in respect of the first tug or barge to be registered by the local company.

Subregulation 8

Amended byS 104/2004 wef 05/03/2004

In this regulation —

Definition

“bareboat charter ship” has the same meaning as in regulation 23;

Definition

“holding company” and “related corporation” have the same meanings as in the Companies Act (Cap. 50).

Amended byS 104/2004 wef 05/03/2004

Regulation 6

Repealed / deleted

[Deleted by S 162/2020 wef 01/07/2020]

Regulation 7

Repealed / deleted

[Deleted by S 104/2004 wef 05/03/2004]

Regulation 8

Registry of foreign owned and locally owned ships

Subregulation 1

No foreign owned ship shall be registered unless it is —

(a)

fitted with mechanical means of self-propulsion; and

(b)

of not less than 1,600 gross tons.

Subregulation 2

No ship above 17 years of age shall be registered unless the Registrar is satisfied that the ship is in a satisfactory condition in all respects.

Subregulation 3

Paragraph (2) shall not apply to a Singapore ship which is registered anew under section 19(1) or 34(1) of the Act.

Regulation 9

Application for registry

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003S 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003S 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

Subregulation 1

A corporation applying for the registry of a ship under section 11 of the Act shall submit to the Registrar the following particulars:

(a)

the name of the corporation;

(b)

the name, address and nationality of its chairman or president;

(c)

the name, address and nationality of each of its directors;

(d)

[Deleted by S 59/2006 wef 30/01/2006](e)its paid-up capital;

(f)

the name, address and nationality of every shareholder of the corporation and the number of shares held by each shareholder; and

(g)

such other information as the Registrar may require.

Subregulation 2

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

The owner and manager of a ship shall, when applying for the registry of the ship, submit to the Registrar such particulars as the Registrar may require.

Subregulation 3

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

The owner or manager of a ship shall notify the Registrar of any change in any of the particulars submitted under this regulation within 30 days of the change.

Subregulation 3A

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

Where a change in particulars reported under this regulation is in respect of the residential address of the owner or manager of a ship, the owner or manager shall be deemed to have complied with paragraph (3) if he has made a report of the change under section 8 of the National Registration Act (Cap. 201) within 28 days thereof.

Subregulation 4

The Registrar may at any time require the owner of a ship to produce such documentary evidence of any of the particulars submitted under this regulation as he thinks fit.

Part V

PART V

Regulation 1

Citation

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

Regulation 1A

Application of these Regulations

Amended byS 162/2020 wef 01/07/2020

Subregulation 1

These Regulations do not apply to any pleasure craft.

Subregulation 2

Amended byS 162/2020 wef 01/07/2020

Regulations 3, 4 and 5 do not apply to any ship, tug or barge registered before 28 September 1981.

Regulation 10

Name under which ship is to be registered

Where an application is made to register an existing ship (that is to say, a ship having once been registered, whether or not it has ceased to be registered) it shall, subject to regulation 12, be made under the name it was previously registered unless a new name has been approved under this Part.

Regulation 11

Application for Registrar’s approval of name of ship

Every application to the Registrar to approve the name of a ship shall specify a name which is in Roman letters, and any numerals shall be in Roman or Arabic numerals.

Regulation 12

Registrar may require change of name or refuse to approve proposed name

Subregulation 1

The Registrar may require the name of an existing ship to be changed or refuse to approve a proposed name if it is —

(a)

already the name of a Singapore ship;

(b)

a name which, in his opinion, is so similar to that of a Singapore ship as to be calculated to deceive or likely to confuse;

(c)

a name which may be confused with a distress signal; or

(d)

a name which is prefixed by any letters or a name which might be taken to indicate a type of ship or any other word, prefix or suffix which might cause confusion as to the name of the ship.

Subregulation 2

Subject to paragraph (3), if the Registrar is satisfied that a name does not fall within paragraph (1), he may approve the name.

Subregulation 3

Notwithstanding that the Registrar is satisfied that a name does not fall within paragraph (1), he may refuse to approve a name which might cause offence or embarrassment.

Subregulation 4

An approved name shall be valid for registry for a period of one year beginning with the date on which the approval is notified to the applicant.

Regulation 13

Reservation of names

Subregulation 1

Notwithstanding regulation 12(4), the Registrar may allow the reservation of a ship’s name for a period of 10 years if he is satisfied that —

(a)

the ship is intended to replace another of the same name which is to be registered within 10 years of the date of the application; and

(b)

the applicant is the owner of a Singapore ship with the same name as that which is to be reserved and —

(i)

the Singapore registry of the ship will be closed before the registry of the new ship; or

(ii)

the ship will be sold before the registry of the new ship on condition that it changes its name and that its name is so changed.

Subregulation 2

An application under this regulation shall be accompanied by a full statement of the circumstances of the case.

Regulation 14

Evidence of seaworthiness

Subregulation 1

The following documents may be accepted by the Registrar as evidence that a ship is in a seaworthy condition for registry under section 12 or 13 of the Act:

(a)

a classification certificate issued by a classification society which has been authorised to issue certificates on behalf of the Government; and

(b)

such other documents relating to the seaworthiness of the ship as the Registrar may determine.

Subregulation 2

Evidence of the seaworthiness of a ship shall be produced to the Registrar at such time as he may require, such evidence being appropriate to the voyages on which the ship is to be engaged.

Regulation 15

Application to Registrar to record change of particulars

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022S 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Subregulation 1

Where there is any change in the registered particulars of a Singapore ship, not being an alteration of the ship to which section 34 of the Act applies or a change of ownership, the owner or manager of the ship shall as soon as practicable apply to the Registrar for the change to be recorded in the register.

Subregulation 2

Such an application shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by the certificate of registry (if available) and such evidence as to the change as may be required by the Registrar.

Subregulation 3

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

On recording the change in the registered particulars, the Registrar must cancel the certificate of registry and issue a new certificate of registry that reflects the change in the registered particulars.

Subregulation 4

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Where there is a change in any of the particulars that is required to be marked in accordance with section 10 of the Act, the Registrar must issue —

(a)

[Deleted by S 737/2025 wef 01/12/2025](b)a new certificate of registry that reflects the change in the registered particulars.

Subregulation 5

[Deleted by S 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022]

Regulation 23

Definitions of this Part

For the purposes of this Part —“bareboat charter ship” means a ship which is hired on bareboat charter terms;“bareboat charter terms”, in relation to a ship, means the hiring of the ship for a stipulated period on terms which give the charterer possession and control of the ship, including the right to appoint the master and crew;“closure certificate” means a certificate or certified extract from the register (issued by the authority responsible for the registry) showing that the entry in the register in respect of a ship has been closed or suspended, the date of the closure or suspension, and the details of the ship and its ownership at the time of the closure or suspension, or other similar document;“the charter period” means the period during which the ship is chartered on bareboat charter terms.

Definition

“bareboat charter ship” means a ship which is hired on bareboat charter terms;

Definition

“bareboat charter terms”, in relation to a ship, means the hiring of the ship for a stipulated period on terms which give the charterer possession and control of the ship, including the right to appoint the master and crew;

Definition

“closure certificate” means a certificate or certified extract from the register (issued by the authority responsible for the registry) showing that the entry in the register in respect of a ship has been closed or suspended, the date of the closure or suspension, and the details of the ship and its ownership at the time of the closure or suspension, or other similar document;

Definition

“the charter period” means the period during which the ship is chartered on bareboat charter terms.

Regulation 24

Bareboat Charter In

Regulations 25 to 30 shall apply to any ship which —

(a)

is registered under the law of a country other than Singapore (hereinafter referred to as the country of original registry);

(b)

is chartered on bareboat charter terms to a charterer who is a person qualified to own Singapore ships; and

(c)

if owned by a person who is qualified to own Singapore ships, may be registered under Part II of the Act.

Regulation 25

Subregulation 1

The Registrar shall keep a register of bareboat charter ships in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

Subregulation 2

An application for the registry of a bareboat charter ship shall be made in writing by the bareboat charterer or by some other person on his behalf and submitted together with —

(a)

a declaration setting out his qualification to register a bareboat charter ship;

(b)

a certified copy of the charter-party showing —

(i)

the name of the ship;

(ii)

the name of the charterer and the name of the owner of the ship;

(iii)

the date of the charter party; and

(iv)

the charter period;

(c)

a closure certificate from the country of original registry; and

(d)

such other documents as are specified, or may be required by the Registrar, under section 11(1)(b) of the Act.

Regulation 26

Provisional registry of bareboat charter ship

Subregulation 1

The Registrar may, if he thinks fit, provisionally register a bareboat charter ship and grant a provisional certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) if the application is not accompanied by such of the documents required under regulation 25(2)(c) or (d).

Subregulation 2

The provisional registry of a bareboat charter ship shall be valid for a maximum period of one year from the date of issue.

Regulation 27

Certificate of registry

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Subregulation 1

On the completion of the registry of a bareboat charter ship, the Registrar shall grant a certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) and retain in his possession all the documents submitted under this regulation except the certificate of registry of the country of original registry (if submitted).

Subregulation 2

The registry of a bareboat charter ship and its certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) shall be valid for a period not exceeding 60 days longer than the duration of the charter period, unless closed sooner and the expiry date shall be entered in the register and the certificate of registry.

Subregulation 3

Where a ship has been provisionally registered under regulation 26 without the tonnage certificate, the fees paid under section 14 of the Act shall be adjusted according to the tonnage established in the tonnage certificate.

Subregulation 4

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Upon the grant of the certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) under paragraph (1), the Registrar must cancel any provisional certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) that had been granted under regulation 26(1) in respect of the bareboat charter ship.

Regulation 28

Extension of expiry date of registry

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Subregulation 1

The Registrar may extend the expiry date of a registered bareboat charter ship upon application by the bareboat charterer or by some other person on his behalf.

Subregulation 2

The application shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by such evidence of the extension or renewal of the charter-party and the closure or suspension of the original registry for the period of the extension as the Registrar may require.

Subregulation 3

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

The Registrar may, if he is satisfied with the evidence produced to him under paragraph (2) and upon payment of the prescribed fee, extend the expiry date of the registry of the bareboat chartered ship and —

(a)

make an entry thereof in the register; and

(b)

cancel the certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) and grant a new certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship).(c)[Deleted by S 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022]

Regulation 29

Closure of registry of bareboat charter ship

Subregulation 1

A registered bareboat charterer of a Singapore ship (bareboat charter registry) may make a written application to close its registry and upon receipt of the application and the certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship), the Registrar may close the registry and make an entry thereof in the register.

Subregulation 2

The registry of a bareboat charter ship shall be deemed to be closed (and the Registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register) —

(a)

on the expiry date entered in its register;

(b)

if it is provisionally registered under regulation 26 and its registry is not completed within the period stated in that regulation;

(c)

when the registered bareboat charterer ceases to be the bareboat charterer of the ship or is no longer qualified to own Singapore ships; or

(d)

on the ship being destroyed or lost.

Subregulation 3

The reference in paragraph (2) to a bareboat charter ship being destroyed or lost includes its being destroyed or lost through demolition, fire, sinking and shipwreck.

Regulation 30

Application of provisions of Act to registered bareboat charter ship

Subregulation 1

The provisions relating to the property in a ship in Part II of the Act shall not apply to a registered bareboat charter ship.

Subregulation 2

No mortgages shall be recorded in the register of a bareboat charter ship.

Subregulation 3

As regards any matter in relation to a registered bareboat charter ship, a bareboat charterer, the register of bareboat charter ships, a certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) or a provisional certificate of registry (bareboat charter ship) for which no special provision has been made by these Regulations, the provisions of the Act or any regulations made thereunder as are applicable in respect of any such matter in relation to a Singapore ship, its owner, the register of Singapore ships or a certificate of registry of a Singapore ship shall, with the necessary modifications, apply.

Regulation 31

Bareboat Charter Out

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Subregulation 1

A Singapore ship may be chartered out on bareboat charter terms and registered outside Singapore in the name of the bareboat charterer, and its registry as a Singapore ship may be suspended during the charter period.

Subregulation 2

An application for the suspension of the registry of a Singapore ship shall be made in writing by the owner or by some other person on his behalf and submitted together with —

(a)

a certified copy of the charter-party showing —

(i)

the name of the ship;

(ii)

the name of the charterer and the name of the owner of the ship;

(iii)

the date of the charter party; and

(iv)

the charter period;

(b)

a certified transcript of the register or similar document showing the bareboat charter registry of the ship; and

(c)

the Singapore certificate of registry of the ship.

Subregulation 3

The Registrar, may, if satisfied of the matters mentioned in paragraph (2) and upon payment of the prescribed fee, enter in the register —

(a)

the date of the suspension of the registry of the ship in Singapore;

(b)

the name of the bareboat charterer;

(c)

the port and country of registry of the ship in the name of the bareboat charterer;

(d)

the date of termination of the suspension referred to in sub-paragraph (a); and

(e)

such other details as the Registrar considers necessary.

Subregulation 4

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

The Registrar may, upon application by the owner of the ship, allow the documents specified in paragraph (2)(b) and (c) to be submitted within a period not exceeding 120 days from the date of suspension of the registry of the ship in Singapore.

Subregulation 5

If the documents are not submitted within the period allowed by the Registrar under paragraph (4), the suspension shall be terminated and cease to have effect and the Registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register.

Regulation 32

Extension of expiry date of suspension of Singapore registry

Subregulation 1

The Registrar may extend the date of termination of the suspension of the registry of a Singapore ship upon application made by the owner or by some other person on his behalf.

Subregulation 2

The application shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by such evidence of the extension or renewal of the charter-party and the continued bareboat charter registry of the ship as the Registrar may require.

Subregulation 3

The Registrar may, if he is satisfied with the evidence produced to him under paragraph (2) and upon payment of the prescribed fee, extend the date of termination of the suspension of the registry of the ship and make an entry thereof in the register.

Regulation 33

Termination of suspension of Singapore registry

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Subregulation 1

The suspension of the registry of a Singapore ship may be terminated upon application made by the owner or by some other person on his behalf.

Subregulation 2

The application shall be made in writing and shall be submitted together with a closure certificate or other similar document showing that the foreign registry of the ship is closed and such evidence of seaworthiness as the Registrar may require on the initial registry of the ship.

Subregulation 3

The Registrar may, if satisfied of the matters mentioned in paragraph (2) and upon payment of the prescribed fee, enter in the register the date of termination of the suspension and shall return the Singapore certificate of registry of the ship to the owner of the ship.

Subregulation 4

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

The Registrar may provisionally terminate the suspension and allow, upon application by the owner, the closure certificate or other similar document specified in paragraph (2) to be submitted within a period not exceeding 120 days from the date of the provisional termination of the suspension.

Subregulation 5

If the document is not submitted within the period allowed by the Registrar under paragraph (4), the provisional termination of the suspension shall cease to have effect and the Registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register.

Subregulation 6

Where the provisional termination of the suspension ceases to have effect under paragraph (5), the Registrar shall proceed as if no application for the termination of the suspension of the registry of the ship had been made.

Regulation 34

Where no application for termination of suspension of Singapore registry is made

Amended byS 352/2022 wef 05/05/2022

Where no application is made to terminate the suspension of the registry of a Singapore ship or to extend the date of termination of the suspension within 120 days of the date of termination of the suspension recorded in the register, the registry of the ship shall be deemed to be closed except in relation to any unsatisfied mortgages entered therein and the Registrar shall make an entry thereof in the register.

Regulation 35

Act and regulations not to apply to ship when Singapore registry suspended

During the period of suspension of the registry of a Singapore ship, the provisions of the Act and any regulations made thereunder shall cease to apply to the ship, except —

(a)

the provisions relating to mortgages and property in the ship in Part II of the Act;

(b)

the provisions relating to the ship’s register; and

(c)

the provisions of section 14 of the Act relating to the payment of annual tonnage tax in respect of the ship.

Regulation 36

Demand for payment of annual tonnage tax

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

The Registrar may send a copy of the demand for payment of the annual tonnage tax to any person appearing as a mortgagee in the ship’s register at the address recorded therein.

Regulation 36A

Exemption

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003

The Registrar may exempt any ship or person from any provision of these Regulations and may impose such conditions as he may consider to be expedient.

Regulation 37

Registers

Registers kept in accordance with Part II of the Act or these Regulations may consist of paper or computerised records or both or such other records as the Registrar may consider to be expedient.

Regulation 38

Forms

Subregulation 1

The forms set out in the Schedule shall be used for the purposes as indicated therein.

Subregulation 2

The Registrar may require such evidence or particulars as he thinks fit in regard to the execution of any of the forms.

Regulation 39

Offences

Amended byS 96/2003 wef 01/03/2003S 162/2020 wef 01/07/2020

Any person who contravenes regulation 9(3) or 15(1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

Common questions

What is Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations?: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations is Singapore Subsidiary Legislation, cited as Subsidiary Legislation MSA-RG7 1995, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1995.
Is Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations still in force?: Yes — Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations is currently in force.
When did Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations take effect?: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations was first recorded in 1995.
How many regulations does Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations have?: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations contains 34 regulations.
Where can I read the official version of Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations?: The official text of Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.