Registration of Small Vessels
Owners of vessels such as canoes, pleasure watercrafts, speed boats and other forms of marine crafts, including commercial vessels of less than 500 gross tons, operating in Liberian territorial waters are required under the Liberia Maritime Laws to be registered with the Bureau of Maritime Affairs (BMA). Similarly, vessels flying the Liberian Flag and operating in foreign waters are required to register.
The owner shall be required to submit with the application for registration, the following documents:
- Bill of Sale and builder’s certificate, if the vessel is new
- Proof of the vessel’s seaworthiness
- Class certificate or the equivalent from an established marine technical surveyor’s office
- Safety inspection certificate issued by the class or surveyor
- All other relevant ship documents.
Vessels, which have met the requirements for registration and passed inspection, are eligible to receive a Certificate of Registry. For additional information on the registration process for vessels of less than 500 gross tons operating in Liberia, Application forms and the fee structure are also available at the BMA Office in Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia, adjacent to J.F.K. Memorial Hospital.
Special Note for All Vessels:
All vessels, which have met the registration requirements, must also be inspected by the Bureau of Maritime Affairs to verify their seaworthiness and to confirm that proper manning conditions exist onboard. They are also required to pay the applicable fees as specified in the fee structure available at the Bureau of Maritime Affairs. Foreign-flagged commercial fishing vessels, which have met the requirements for registration and passed inspection, are eligible for a Certificate of Number, which is valid for either 3, 6 or 12 months.
Any vessel engaged in commercial activities within the territorial waters of the Republic of Liberia that does not have a valid Certificate of Number or Certificate of Registry issued by the Bureau of Maritime Affairs, will be in violation of the Maritime Laws of Liberia. Vessels in violation are subject to arrest, seizure of their cargo, and a fine of One Thousand United States Dollars (US $1,000.00.
Licensing of Officers
Except when prevented by force majeure, all officers of vessels registered with the Bureau are required to obtain licenses related to their respective positions. If the Master or operator of a registered vessel employs a seaman, who does not have the appropriate licenses and certificates, he/she shall be subject to a fine of Two Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars (US$ 250.00). The fee shall be assessed upon the Master or operator for each seaman found violating the aforementioned requirements.
In addition, any person, not being lawfully entitled thereto, who alters (forge/counterfeit) or falsely transfers a certificate, license or other document issued to a vessel, officer, or crew by the Bureau of Maritime Affairs shall be subject to a fine of Ten-Thousand United States Dollars (US$ 10.000.00) and/or imprisonment for up to one year.
For additional licensing information, Application forms and the fee structure are also available at the BMA Office in Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia, Adjacent J.F.K. Memorial Hospital.
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