Ship Registration Under Malta Flag

Vessel registration under the Malta flag and the operation of Maltese ships is regulated by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1973, a law based mainly on United Kingdom legislation but subsequently revised and amended in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 2000. The main legislation is supplemented by a comprehensive set of rules and regulations.

Advantages include:

• ships may be registered in the name of legally constituted corporate bodies or entities irrespective of nationality, or by European Union citiziens.

• low company formation, ship registration and tonnage tax costs; progressive reduction in registration and tonnage tax costs for younger ships

• attractive incentives to owners, registered charterers and financiers of Maltese ships of over 1,000 net tonnage; these incentives may also be extended to smaller ships