A FLAG RESPECTED FOR ITS QUALITY AND SERVICE

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1 A FLAG RESPECTED FOR ITS QUALITY AND SERVICE

The Bahamas a maritime nation With more than 700 islands, rocks and cays, The Bahamas is truly a maritime nation. Bahamian culture, heritage and history have long been associated with the sea.

Today, The Bahamas is a vigorous international maritime centre which offers a wide range of maritime-related services.

This makes for a comprehensive maritime cluster, enhanced by the absence of income tax and corporation tax.

shipping companies. Why? Two words quality and service.

3 The Bahamas a maritime nation With more than 700 islands, rocks and cays, The Bahamas is truly a maritime nation. Bahamian culture, heritage and history have long been associated with the sea. The country s centuries-old trading traditions and its modern prosperity and affluence owe their success to seafaring and the sustained growth of maritime services. Today, The Bahamas is a vigorous international maritime centre which offers a wide range of maritime-related services. It has its own port, cruise ship, dry dock and container industries as well as centres of excellence in shipping law (based on English law), financial services, insurance and ship brokering. This makes for a comprehensive maritime cluster, enhanced by the absence of income tax and corporation tax. It is no surprise therefore to find that the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) runs one of the world s finest, largest and most respected flags that continues to attract many prestigious global shipping companies. Why? Two words quality and service. The Authority accepts ships meeting international standards onto the Register and its current owners know that their good names will always be associated with a flag committed to quality compliance and continued improvement. The BMA takes immense pride in the fact that Nassau is displayed on some of the world s most technologically advanced vessels and the largest cruise ships in the world. The BMA provides a wealth of knowledge, experience and capabilities to support and deliver a quality service to its ship owners, for example, there is 24-hour management of emergencies and provisions of crew documentation.

The Bahamas fleet Why flag with us? When selecting a flag, an owner must take into account many factors the average age of the fleet, its port state control record, fees, and overall cost.

This, coupled with an ability to deal with owners questions and problems, means that it is no coincidence that The Bahamas has become the flag of choice for many of the world s finest fleets.

4 The Bahamas fleet Why flag with us? When selecting a flag, an owner must take into account many factors the average age of the fleet, its port state control record, fees, and overall cost. But the key factor, the one that affects everything else, is quality of service. This, coupled with an ability to deal with owners questions and problems, means that it is no coincidence that The Bahamas has become the flag of choice for many of the world s finest fleets. The BMA s rapid response to technical, legal, seafarer and registry queries is well known and greatly valued. The Authority is justifiably proud of the level of service that it provides, as a result it has maintained positions on the whitelists of every Port State Control MOU and it has gained Low Risk status with the Paris and Toyko MOUs. The Bahamas Register has a broad-based portfolio of ship types and an in-depth understanding of their particular needs. Perhaps best known for its world class cruise fleet, in fact passenger ships make up just 9% of ship numbers on the Bahamas Register. General cargo accounts for 14%, tankers 27% and bulk carriers 17% The Bahamas is also proud of its technical expertise in supporting the offshore industry offshore oil and gas support vessels alone account for 16% of the vessels registered with the flag. Yacht 3% Reefer 5% Tanker 27% Passenger/HSC/ Roro Ferry 9% Other 6% Offshore Support 16% Bulk Carrier 17% Container 3% General Cargo 14%

Asia accounts for some 10% of the total.

5 A global choice One of the strengths of the Bahamas Register lies in the diversity of its fleet. More than 10% of the fleet comes from North America, while the other traditional seafaring nations of Norway, Greece and the United Kingdom make up more than 40%. Asia accounts for some 10% of the total. Ship owners from all of these countries are proud of the quality of their fleets and want a register that upholds their values and provides them with a global support network. The BMA is always alert to the needs of its ship owners and with offices across three continents Asia, North America and Europe and in several distinct time zones, the Authority s highly experienced staff and teams of professional maritime inspectors are available to provide help and support whenever and wherever it is needed. Such service minimises down time and offers owners immediate and sustained attention. With additional support from twelve (12) member societies of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), that act as the BMA s Recognised Organisations (ROs), the commitment of the BMA to its ship owners is unparalleled. UK 12% UAE 4% USA 10% Singapore 4% Poland 2% RoW 9% Norway 12% Bahamas 8% Belgium 1% Canada 1.5% Japan 3% Monaco 2% Netherlands 4% Cyprus 2.5% Denmark 4% France 2% Germany 2% Greece 17%

Ship Registration The Bahamas is committed to attracting ships which meet international standards of safety, security and environmental protection.

6 Ship Registration The Bahamas is committed to attracting ships which meet international standards of safety, security and environmental protection. Ships older than 12 years of age are subject to a pre-registration inspection and applications for ships over 20 years will also be considered. A ship during its shipbuilding stage may also be registered as a Ship Being Built. An owner, irrespective of nationality or place of incorporation, can hold direct title to a Bahamasflagged ship. Some foreign owners find it useful to incorporate a Bahamian company for this purpose, as there is no imposition of tax on income, capital gains or similar revenues in The Bahamas. All prospective owners and their agents can be confident that the BMA s dedicated team of Registrars, and their support staff, are always available to assist with any questions regarding ship registration and to provide guidance throughout the registration process. All contact details, necessary forms and registration requirements are available on the Authority s website: Registration transactions for Bahamian ships may take place at our offices located in Nassau, London, Hong Kong, Greece or New York and at the BMA s agency office in Tokyo. Once the documentary formalities have been completed, the Registrar will reserve the vessel s name and issue Bahamas identification details Official Number, MMSI and Call Sign. Provisional Registration and Dual Registration Following completion of the registration process, a ship will be registered as a provisionally registered ship, and a mortgage may be registered over the ship immediately following its registration. During the period of provisional registration, the owner is given a period of six months to complete the necessary surveys and requirements for permanent registration. A ship on provisional registration has full access to all the privileges and entitlements of a permanent registered Bahamian ship. There is also provision for dual registration, or bareboat registration. A Bahamas flagged ship may be dual registered with another flag, where the registration with the Bahamas will be suspended during the period of the bareboat registration. Equally, a vessel which is registered with another flag state may be dual registered with the Bahamas as the second register.

7 REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVISIONAL AND PERMANENT REGISTRATION OF NEW SHIPS, EXISTING SHIPS AND SHIPS BEING BUILT Listed below are the documents which are required to be forwarded to the Authority to complete the registration of a vessel. Applicants are requested to complete those pages of the application form that are relevant to the vessel being registered. Please note it is also necessary to submit the payment of all applicable fees including the first year s annual fee (pro-rated accordingly) in order for the provisional registration of the vessel to be given effect. APPLICATION FORM CONTENTS BEING BUILT** NEW EXISTING Application to Register a Ship R Appointment of Authorised Officer (Must be notarised) R Registration of Managing Owners R Declaration of Ownership (May be notarised or signed in presence of Registrar) R Application for Safe Manning Document R Application for Permit to Operate a High Speed Craft R URCA Ship Radio communications Licence Application R Application for Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) Appendix Application for MLC 2006 DMLC Part I 3 3 * Application for LRIT Conformance Test Report 3 3 CERTIFICATES REQUIRED Bill of Sale and/or Builder s Certificate (Must be notarised) Copy of Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance Copy of Certificate of Company Incorporation Original Certificate of Good Standing (Must be less than 3 months old) Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunker CLC) (All vessels over 1000 GT) Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) (Tankers only) Civil Liability for the Removal of Wrecks (Wreck CLC) Copy of Transcript of Register showing registered owner and encumbrances 3 (Must be less than 48 hours old) Copies of all previously issued Continuous Synopsis Records 3 (Former) Certificate of Survey and/or copy of Certificate of Registry (Former) International Tonnage Certificate Bahamas ISM Code Document of Compliance Current class status report 3 Exemptions/Equivalent Arrangements certificates 3 3 (Former) Other Statutory Certificates issued under International Conventions and Codes 3 (Former) Caribbean Cargo Ship Safety Certificates 3 * Release from Foreign Register 3 * Declaration of No Liens on Foreign Register 3 OTHER Notification of Radio Accounting Authority (AAIC) 3 3 Ancillary Fees Annual Fee * Ship s Carving and Marking Note 3 3 * Initial Inspection Report (Provided by Approved BMA Inspector) 3 3 * Required for Permanent Registration Note: A list of the remaining application forms and certificates which must be submitted prior to the vessel s completion will be forwarded.

Owners can be sure that the BMA possesses the appropriate expertise needed to deal with their ships, whatever the size and type.

8 Safety & Inspection Safety of life, maritime security and the protection of the marine environment are the most important parts of the BMA s work. Because of this, the Inspections and Survey Department is staffed with highly experienced personnel with seagoing knowledge covering a wide variety of ships. Owners can be sure that the BMA possesses the appropriate expertise needed to deal with their ships, whatever the size and type. The BMA has authorised all twelve (12) of the IACS members as Recognised Organisations (ROs), to carry out statutory surveys and issue international convention certificates on behalf of The Bahamas. A full list of ROs can be found on the BMA s website at The ROs also perform audits and inspections and issue certification under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) For ship owners with multi-flagged fleets, the BMA has agreements with other administrations to perform company ISM audits on its behalf. All ships must be inspected when first registered with The Bahamas and annually thereafter. Inspections are conducted by one of the worldwide network of BMA approved nautical inspectors. BMA safety inspection certificates are issued to all Bahamian ships and must be renewed annually. Inspections are in addition to the statutory surveys, audits and inspections conducted on our behalf by our ROs. If there are any doubts about a ship s compliance with the requirements of the relevant international conventions, the inspector will liaise with the BMA in order to establish what action may be necessary. The BMA s worldwide network of inspectors enables owners of Bahamian ships to arrange inspections wherever their vessels may be. On completion of an inspection, in addition to issuing the ship with a report and safety certificate, the inspector will send the completed report to the BMA for review and action as appropriate. Besides verifying statutory compliance and proper management of the ship, inspections also provide ship owners with an independent overview of the ship s condition and its management. Such additional value added services have proved to be of great use to many owners.

Seafarers and manning Ships and units registered with the Bahamas must comply with the international and national requirements to be sufficiently and efficiently manned with appropriately trained

The BMA will assess the proposed manning level taking into consideration the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers 1978

9 Seafarers and manning Ships and units registered with the Bahamas must comply with the international and national requirements to be sufficiently and efficiently manned with appropriately trained personnel. As a part of the registration process, a safe manning proposal is submitted by the Owner/Manager to the BMA. The BMA will assess the proposed manning level taking into consideration the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers 1978 as amended (STCW Convention), International Labour Organisation (ILO) requirements and the international guidelines relating to manning of ships (IMO Resolutions A. 1079(28)) and training/manning for offshore units (IMO Assembly A. 891 (21)). If the assessment is satisfactory, the BMA will issue a Safe Manning Document and continued compliance with the manning level will be verified during the flag state inspections and statutory audits. Seafarers employed on board Bahamas registered ships must be trained and appropriately certificated in accordance with the applicable international requirements for their assigned shipboard duties. The Bahamas recognises STCW certificates issued by the majority of the national maritime administrations and the BMA issues Flag State Endorsements and certification for: Officers: Navigation, Engineering, GMDSS and Electro-Technical Ratings Tanker personnel: Oil, Chemical and Liquefied Gas Ship Security Officers Offshore personnel: Offshore Installation Manager, Ballast Control Operator, Barge Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor Recognising that some seafarers may require evidence of sea service, the BMA also issues Seaman Record Books. In order to facilitate the timely processing of these documents and to enhance our customer service delivery, the BMA has developed BORIS (Bahamas Online Registration Information System) which is a web based system that enables registered users to: securely submit seafarers applications 24/7 directly to the system automatic receive acknowledge of application so that for applicable certificates, the seafarer can join and serve onboard the affected ship make payments and actively monitor/track the progress of applications, verify the validity of an existing Bahamas certificates, and request duplicate/renewal documents. As well as these benefits, this use of technology is environmental friendly (paper applications and supporting documentation not required), cost effective (no cost for registration and reduction of postal fees) and provides a level of control for the customer (direct data input) and increases accuracy of seafarer data. The BMA is mindful that Owners and Managers invest and engage in the training of their seafarers and Owners/Managers of Bahamian registered ships may apply to the BMA for the approval of any in-house/ onboard STCW Chapter V or VI training for persons intending to serve or serving onboard Bahamian ships. The BMA will audit the proposed training taking into consideration the international guidelines and if the training complies with the requirements, a STCW approval document will be issued. The BMA will conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance is maintained.

10 Yacht Registration The BMA also manages yacht registration. There is a natural fit between these beautiful vessels and The Bahamas a destination of choice for those seeking luxurious surroundings together with a highly successful business sector. When the Bahamas Register is chosen, yacht owners get a lot more than just a flag. They join an elite international maritime community and gain all the advantages that The Bahamas one-stop maritime cluster has to offer: an unrivalled wealth management industry of many years standing an exceptionally advantageous tax regime world class port and marine services, ship maintenance and dry-docking facilities some of the world s most enviable tourist facilities ambitious expansion plans throughout The Bahamas archipelago for marina resort developments and larger boat slips to accommodate the world s largest yachts. With quality and service being the BMA s guiding principles, the maintenance of statutory standards throughout the international fleet is paramount. Yachts, despite differences in construction and operation from other vessels, are no exception. The BMA has published the Bahamas Yacht Code to cover the statutory requirements for commercial yachts under its flag. This is based on the well-established Large Yacht Code, and tailored to fit the requirements of discerning owners. In the luxury sector, you would expect nothing less than this bespoke approach. Further advice and information is available on the Yacht Registry page of the website: com where all forms, Bulletins, Codes and other materials are available for download. Alternatively yachts@bahamasmaritime.com or phone your local regional office.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other international bodies The Bahamas has strong representation at both the International Maritime

11 The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other international bodies The Bahamas has strong representation at both the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which gives our owners direct input into the regulatory process and brings their knowledge of best practice to the attention of all policy makers. The Bahamas has also played an important role in the maritime aspects of the United Nations Climate Change Conferences. The Bahamas is a long standing member of the Council of the IMO; the ultimate decision making authority of the IMO. The Council decides the budget and sets the international legislative direction of the whole IMO. Therefore, it is both a privilege and a reflection of the work undertaken by The Bahamas that we have been elected so frequently to this 40 seat body. Together with The Bahamas High Commission in London, the BMA works to ensure that governmental representation at IMO and ILO covers both diplomatic and technical matters. The Bahamas plays a leading role in shaping the technical, legal and administrative regulations produced by the IMO as well as being one of the IMOs largest financial contributors. The Bahamas has consistently submitted proposals aimed at strengthening safety measures, reducing the work load upon owners and masters, and has sought practical solutions to current safety issues. BMA staff are often called upon to serve as chairs for sub-committees and technical working groups. The Bahamas is also sought out by other delegations for advice and leadership on various issues. As a result, The Bahamas has been able to guide some significant legislation through the IMO and ILO. Owners are then able to tap into this extensive stock of knowledge and expertise.

The BSA has a long and distinguished history of representing the collective voice of its members who have common interests and a common purpose.

12 The BSA has a long and distinguished history of representing the collective voice of its members who have common interests and a common purpose. The BSA s objectives are: to promote the interests of owners of Bahamian registered vessels and to facilitate dialogue between the Bahamas Maritime Authority and the Association s members; to offer owners the chance to be proactive in discussing prospective international policy changes, especially with regard to IMO deliberations; and to meet with international bodies such as the European Community and the US Coast Guard to lobby on behalf of the interests of Bahamas flagged vessels. The Board of the BSA is made up of owners from various nations and shipping sectors. No sector goes unheard or unrepresented. The Committee holds regular meetings to review proposals that affect the shipping industry. The Association also has its own IMO correspondent to both keep it better informed and be able to offer advice to the BMA. Contact us London 120 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AR, UK Tel: +(44) Fax: +(44) reg@bahamasmaritime.com New York Bahamas House, 231 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: +(1) Fax: +(1) newyork@bahamasmaritime.com March 2016 Nassau Shirlaw House, 226 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N-4679, Nassau, Bahamas Tel: +(1) Fax: +(1) nassau@bahamasmaritime.com Piraeus (Greece) 10 Antoniou Ampatielou Street, Piraeus, Greece Tel: + (30) or + (30) greece@bahamasmaritime.com Web: Hong Kong (China) Room , 20th Floor, Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong Tel +(852) Fax: +(852) hongkong@bahamasmaritime.com Web: Agency office Tokyo (Japan) Mr Hiroyuki Miike (Registrar), Mitsui Soko Co., Ltd., Ship Registration Team, , Nishi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: (+81) Fax: (+81) miike@mitsui-soko.co.jp Web: OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCY NUMBER: +(44)

INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 101

Bulletin No. 101 Revision No. 07 Issue Date 24 Feb 2017 Effective Date 24 Feb 2017 INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 101 Application of Mandatory and Non-mandatory Requirements Guidance and Instructions for Bahamas