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Apply for entry in the shipping register

  • Register und Kataster

Would you like to officially register your ship? You can find out how to apply for entry in the shipping register here.

  • Basic information

    You can apply to have a ship entered in the shipping register. You may be obliged to register the ship.

    You must have the ship entered in the shipping register if

    • it is a seagoing vessel with a hull length of at least 15 meters,
    • it is an inland waterway vessel and is intended for the transport of goods and can carry at least 20 tons,
    • it is an inland waterway vessel and not intended for the transport of goods, but has a displacement of at least ten cubic meters, or
    • it is a tanker, a tugboat or a push boat.

    Requirements

    • The ship is not registered in any other shipping register in Germany or abroad.
    • The maximum carrying capacity of inland waterway vessels intended for the carriage of goods is at least 10 tons.
    • For inland waterway vessels not intended for the transport of goods, the displacement at maximum immersion is at least 5 cubic meters.
    • Other inland waterway vessels are tugs, tankers and push boats.
    • The seagoing vessel is entitled to fly the federal flag.
    • If the owner is not resident in Germany, a representative must be named who lives in the area of the competent registration court.

  • Procedure
    • Complete the application for entry in the shipping register in full.
    • You sign the application and then submit the original application to the shipping register.
    • You submit the necessary supporting documents.
    • The registry court checks your application and the documents for completeness and accuracy.
    • If the check is successful, the entry is made.
    • You will be sent the ship's certificate for seagoing vessels or the ship's letter for inland waterway vessels.

    More information

    • In Germany, the shipping register is kept by various local courts, not by a central register. Jurisdiction is based on the home port or home town of the ship.
    • The local court does not provide legal advice. Please contact a law firm for this purpose

  • Necessary Documents
    • Application with details of the location from which the shipping is operated
    • Proof of ownership
      • for example purchase contract
    • Protocol of the handover of the ship
    • Proof of machine performance
      • for example data sheet of the motor
    • If the vessel was previously registered in another shipping register, a certificate of deletion must be submitted
    • For seagoing vessels:
      • a tonnage certificate or other surveying certificate and a copy of the identity card must also be submitted
    • For inland waterway vessels:
      • the calibration certificate must also be submitted

  • Competent Department

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    There are fees for registering the vessel. The amount of the fees depends on the value of the ship. Further information can be found in the Cost Ordinance under "Legal basis".

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    There are no deadlines.

    How long does it take to process

    The processing time depends on the individual case.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 23.02.2026

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