Manning

Maltese ships are subject to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act (1973) and ancillary regulations concerning the competency of officers and seamen.

International Conventions

Malta has practically adopted all the major international maritime conventions including: CLC 69, Tonnage 69, COLREG 72, Fund 71, INMARSAT, Load Lines 66, London Dumping 72, MARPOL 73/78, SOLAS 74/78, and STCW 78.

Authorised Classification Societies

Survey, tonnage and convention certificates may be issued on behalf of the Maltese Government by the following classifications societies: American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Hellenic Registrar of Shipping, Korean Register of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, and Registro Italiano Navale.

The following classification societies have partial recognition to issue survey, tonnage and convention certificates, which is only applicable in certain circumstances: China Classification Society, Croatian Register of Shipping, Polski Rejestr Statkow and Russian Maritima Register of Shipping.

Mortgages

Registration, transfer and discharge of Mortgages may be effected immediately on presentation of the relative documents to the Registrar. The 1986, 1988, and 1990 amendments introduced important safeguards to the mortgagees of Maltese ships, making financing more attractive.

Closure of Registry

The registry of a Maltese ship may be closed at the request of the owners provided all liabilities and obligations in respect of the ship towards the State of Malta have been paid and the consent of all registered mortgagees is produced.