Registration changes to ship ownership for Part A registered ships
Registered ownership usually changes because:
- the ship has a new owner
- the owner dies
- a joint owner dies
The documentation required for each of these is different.
For details of other forms of transmission by operation of law, for example to the Crown, Public Trustee or by Court Order, contact the Registrar of Ships. Email: [email protected]
Transfer of ownership
When a ship is sold, both the current registered owner and the new owner need to complete and provide documentation to Maritime NZ's Registrar of Ships.
The transfer process is more complex when a ship has more than one owner.
The current registered owner (the seller) must
- complete the Bill of Sale (form SR14) and
- send the completed Bill of sale to the new owner (the purchaser).
The new owner (the purchaser) must send the Registrar of Ships:
- the Bill of Sale (form SR14) completed by the registered owner
- a Declaration of Ownership and Nationality of Transfer (form SR4) made by the new owner/s after the Bill of Sale has been completed
- the Ship’s Certificate of Registry (“the blue book”)
The fee to transfer ownership is NZ$613, which is paid by the new owner. After your application is received, the new owner will be invoiced by Maritime NZ, with information also provided about how to pay.
The new owner must lodge these documents within 3 months of the date of the Bill of Sale. If they do not, they may incur a fine of up to NZ$2,000
Transactions are registered in the order in which they are received by the Registrar of Ships. The approximate processing time is 10 working days from receipt of the correctly completed documents and payment of the fee.
Transfers of ownership can be complex if there are a number of owners. The type of ownership required (joint or ownership in common) may affect the number of Bills of Sale and Declarations of Transfer to be completed. In this cases, contact the Registrar of Ships for advice before you complete any forms.
Registering the death of a joint owner
Transmission by operation of law
Where a joint owner of a ship (or joint owner of shares in a ship) dies, ownership passes to the surviving joint owner/s by operation of law.
The joint owners must register the Transmission (transfer) before they can deal with the ship, for example before they can sell or mortgage it.
The following documents need to be sent to Maritime NZ
- a Declaration of Transmission (form SR13) completed by the surviving joint owner/s
- a Declaration of Identity (form SR29) made by a person well acquainted with the deceased, who is not one of the joint owner/s to whom the ownership is to be transmitted
- a certified copy of the deceased’s death certificate
- the Ship’s Certificate of Registry, (“the blue book”).
The fee for a transmission (transfer) of ownership on the death of a joint owner is NZ$613. After your application is received, you will be invoiced by Maritime NZ, with information also provided about how to pay.
Transactions are registered in the order they are received. The approximate processing time is 10 working days from receipt of correctly completed documents and payment of the fee.
Registering the death of a sole owner
Transmission by operation of law
When the sole owner of a ship, or the owner of shares in a ship, dies, ownership passes to the legal personal representative(s) of the deceased, usually the Trustees of the deceased’s estate.
The transmission must be registered before the legal personal representative(s) can deal with the ship, for example before they can:
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transfer it to a beneficiary or beneficiaries of the estate, or
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sell it to a third party.
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If there is a specific bequest of the ship, or shares in the ship, in the deceased’s will, ownership can be transmitted direct to the beneficiary instead of to the legal personal representative(s).
Send the following documents to Maritime NZ:
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a Declaration of Transmission (form SR13) made by the legal personal representative(s) or the legatee to whom ownership will be transmitted
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a certified copy of probate or letters of administration
-
the ship’s certificate of registry (“the blue book”)
The fee for transmission (transfer) of ownership on the death of the owner is NZ$613. After your application is received, you will be invoiced by Maritime NZ, with information also provided about how to pay.
Transactions are registered in the order they are received. The approximate processing time is 10 working days from receipt of correctly completed documents and payment of the fee.