Answer
The Certificate of Registration is the vessel's principal documentary evidence of her registration and Indian nationality.
Particulars Specified on an Indian Certificate of Registry
An Indian COR contains statutory entries aligned with DGS templates:
| Statutory Category | Details Recorded on Certificate |
| Vessel Identity | Name of Ship, IMO Number, Official Number (O.N.), Call Sign, Port of Registry (e.g., Mumbai / Kolkata). |
| Class & Survey Data | Certificate of Survey Number, Classification Society (e.g., IRS), Tonnage (GT & NT). |
| Principal Dimensions | Length Overall (LOA), Breadth, Moulded Depth, Tonnage Length. |
| Machinery Particulars | Make/Model of Main Engine(s), Type, Total Brake Power in kW, Number of Sets, Screw arrangement. |
| Construction Particulars | Year built, Name & Country of Shipbuilder, Hull Material (Steel/Aluminum). |
| Ownership Details | Name, Address, and PAN/CIN of Registered Owner(s); Division of the 64 Shares; Name of Managing Owner/Designated Person. |
| Statutory Endorsements | Official Seal and Signature of the Registrar of Indian Ships, Date & Place of Issue. |
Types of Ship Registration
Ordinary / Permanent Registration: Standard registration for vessels owned by local individuals or companies.
Provisional Registration: Temporary registration issued to facilitate vessel transfer, transit from abroad, or completion of formal paperwork.
Bareboat Charter Registration (Dual Registry):
Bareboat Charter-In (BBCI): A foreign-flagged ship is chartered to a local operator and temporarily registered under the local flag for the charter duration, while underlying title stays in the primary registry.
Bareboat Charter-Out (BBCO): A locally registered ship is chartered to a foreign operator, suspending its local flag rights while preserving underlying mortgage entries.
Flag of Convenience (Open Registry): Registration in a country where there is no requirement for a genuine economic link between the flag state and the beneficial owner (e.g., Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands).
Eligibility Criteria for Indian Ship Ownership
To be registered as an "Indian Ship" under the MS Act 2025, the vessel (or 100% of its 64 shares) must be owned by:
Citizens of India (individuals).
Entities Incorporated in India: Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), or Co-operative Societies established under Indian law, with their principal place of business in India.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) / Entities with NRI participation (as per updated government guidelines and DGS notifications).
Bareboat Charter-In (BBCI) Entities: Foreign-flagged vessels chartered by Indian citizens or companies under bareboat charter terms for a specified period (Dual Registry).
As per MS act 2025, Part III, Section 20:Procedure for registration
Step 1: Application for Name Approval & Allotment
The applicant applies online via the DG Shipping portal (e-Governance / Swachh Sagar) to the Registrar of Indian Ships at the preferred Port of Registry (e.g., Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, Visakhapatnam, Kandla, Mormugao).
DGS verifies and approves the availability of the proposed ship name and assigns the Official Number (O.N.) and Call Sign.
Step 2: Verification of Title & Execution of Bill of Sale
The owner submits:
Declaration of Ownership (stating 64 shares division).
Bill of Sale (BOS) / Builder's Certificate (executed in the prescribed format, stamped as per Indian Stamp Act).
Certificate of Deletion from the previous foreign registry (attested/legalized or apostilled).
Instrument of Power of Attorney (POA) and Corporate Authorizations.
Step 3: Measurement, Tonnage & Class Survey
A recognized survey body—the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) or an authorized Classification Society—surveys the ship in accordance with the International Tonnage Convention 1969 and Indian Tonnage Rules.
The surveyor issues the official Certificate of Survey detailing Gross Tonnage (GT), Net Tonnage (NT), dimensions, and engine power (kW).
Step 4: Issue of Carving & Marking Note (C&M Note)
The Registrar issues a Carving & Marking Note.
The owner permanently marks the ship as follows:
Name of Ship: On both bows and stern in Hindi (Devanagari script) and English.
Port of Registry: On the stern below the name (e.g., KOLKATA or MUMBAI).
Main Beam Marking: Official Number (O.N.) and Net Tonnage (N.T.) deeply carved/cut or welded on the main transverse bulkhead or engine room forward bulkhead (e.g.,
O.N. 15420 N.T. 8450).IMO Number: Cut/welded on the engine room transverse bulkhead as per SOLAS/MS Rules.
Draft Scale: Cut/welded in metres/decimetres on both sides forward, midships, and aft.
An IRS/MMD (Mercantile Marine Department) surveyor inspects the markings, signs the C&M Note, and returns it to the Registrar.
Step 5: Provisional Registration
If a ship is acquired outside India, an Indian Consular Officer or an authorized DGS representative abroad can issue a Provisional Certificate of Registry.
Validity: Valid for up to 6 months or until the ship arrives at an Indian port where an official Registrar operates, whichever occurs first.
Step 6: Entry in the Register Book & Issuance of Permanent COR
The Registrar records all particulars in the Register Book of Indian Ships (maintained electronically under DGS).
The Registrar issues the official Indian Certificate of Registry.