IMMARBE (The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize) is a part of the Attorney General’s Ministry. Enrollment of ships in the commercial fleet is regulated by the Registration of Merchant Ship Act of 1989, as amended in 1996 and 2010.
Operational since May 1991, the Belize registry has thoroughly inspected the fleet and improved Port State Performance. Particularly, it has reduced its average age to 19 years. In 2010, new buildings constituted 37% of all new registrations, and the tonnage was increased by 12,4%. With 50% of the Belize fleet operating in Asia, 30% in Europe and the remaining 20% elsewhere, IMMARBE has become one of the world’s top 15 open marine registries.
Headquartered in Belize City, IMMARBE has received ISO 9002 certification and it is going to join the voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme in March 2011.
SHIP REGISTRATION IN BELIZE
Provisional registration is valid for 6 months. Within this period it is expected that the owner submits all required documentation for the permanent registration of the vessel.
Recent photographs of the vessel's interior and exterior should be submitted in order to have an idea of what the vessel looks like.
Provisional Registration:
• Completed application form for registration;
• A copy of an official document providing ownership, in the form of a notarized Bill of Sale, previous Certificate of Registry, Builder's certificate, Court Auction Document or Memorandum of Agreement, accompanied by the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance;
• Copy of the vessel's deletion certificate from the previous registry or permission to transfer or delete or consent to transfer registry from the current registry if it is available;
• Copy of the vessel's notarized Builder's Certificate;
• A notarized Power of Attorney appointing a shipping agent in Belize must be submitted.*
The shipping Agents in Belize act as an "assured communication link with owners" in accordance with the requirements of the Registration of Merchant Shipping Act as well as with the provisions of Article 10(2) of the U.N.Convention on the Conditions of Registration of Ships.
Declaration concerning the vessel's intentional use (commercial or private) as well as the area of operation. Such declaration can be issued on a company's letterhead paper and signed by the owner, operator or their manager. It is an offence under IMMARBE's Disciplinary Regulations to register a yacht as a private one when it is in fact in commercial use.
Details of the authorized Recognized Organization or individual surveyor who will be responsible for surveying the yacht on behalf of our Administration and the issuance of the relevant certificates are required by this code.
Evidence of Hull, Machinery and Third Party Limited Liability Insurance Cover. It is mandatory for commercial yachts and is strongly recommended for private yachts.
• Confirmation of the vessel's intended area of operation.
• Appointment of an authorized radio accounting as per the attached listing depending on the vessel's use and navigation area. It is mandatory for commercial yachts and is strongly recommend for private yachts.
PERMANENT REGISTRATION
The following documents must be submitted before we can proceed with the permanent registration of this yacht:
1. Original or Certified True Copy of the Bill of Sale duly notarized;
2. Original or Certified True Copy of the Power of Attorney from the ship owner thereby appointing a Shipping Agent in Belize;
3. Deletion certificate from the previous Registry;
4. Copy of the Tonnage Measurement Certificate and Certificate of Compliance issued on behalf of the Government of Belize.
*All documents must be in the English language or, if not in English, accompanied by an English translation thereof.
**N.B. It is a condition of registration stating that all yachts should comply with the national legislation and regulations of each State in whose territorial waters they operate.