Introduction 

The register accepts vessels up to 24 meters/78.5 feet in length and

Requirements   The requirements for registry are common to all vessel types.   The full details are in the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 34.22 Section 18:

a)     Turks and Caicos Islanders;

b)    Persons holding a permanent residence certificate;

c)     British citizens;

d)    British Overseas Territories citizens;

e)     British Overseas citizens;

f)      British subjects;

g)    Persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 are British Nationals (Overseas);

h)    Persons, other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (f), who are nationals of a Member State of the European Union or European Economic Area, including the overseas territories of such a Member State;

i)      Bodies corporate incorporated in any Member State of the European Union or European Economic Area, including the United Kingdom;

j)      Bodies corporate incorporated in any relevant British possession, including the Islands, or in any overseas territory of a Member State of the European Union or the European Area, and having a place of business in any such possession or overseas territory; and

k)     Bodies corporate incorporated in a Member State of the Caribbean Community or the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and registered in the Islands.

Application Requirements

Registration requires the submission of documents which are intended to demonstrate:

• Proof of ownership, which may be a Bill of Sale or a Builder’s Certificate in the case of a new building.

• Certificate of Deletion from the previous registry; that the ship is not registered elsewhere at the same time and this is usually with a.

• Proof of eligibility to own a Turks and Caicos Islands ship which may be a copy of a passport for Islanders or a copy of the certificate of Incorporation for corporate entities.  

The list of documents to be submitted for the registry is set out in the application form for the registry and is as follows:

• Notarized copy of the Bill of Sale or the Builder’s Certificate.

• Notarized copy of a certificate of deletion from the present foreign register evidencing deletion of the ship from the foreign register free of encumbrances.

As well as the necessary legal documents for registry, the application for registry will need to be accompanied by the ship’s current statutory certificates including:

• Certificate of registry;

• Inspection certificate;

Vessel Inspection

An Initial Safety Inspection is required for all vessels to complete the registration process.

Application Procedure

1. Complete Application Form

   • Forms can be collected from the DMAR Office (Grand Turk and Providenciales) or

   • Click Here to download the Application for Registration

   • Click Here to fill in the registration documents checklist

2. Return application form with supporting documents to DMAR by:

   • In-person submission at the DMAR Office; or

   • Email application form and supporting documents to maritime_shipping@gov.tc

3. Payment of fees based on the voucher provided by DMAR to be paid at the Treasury.

The Administration issues the following certificates to operate locally:

·        Ship Radio License (SRL)

·        Certificate of Inspection (COI)

be collected from the ADOMS Office or

Click Here to download the Application for Registration and Licensing

Click