Ship registration
COVID-19 response information
New Zealand is at Alert Level 1.
Processing your applications
Although our staff are now working from home, we have made changes so we can continue to provide services for you.
Read about the changes
We recommend that you only send your applications and documents to us electronically by email:
- The two forms of ID you send in must be certified by the person completing page 9 (Trusted Referee Confirmation of Identity) of the Fit and Proper Person Form. If you are directly affected by COVID-19 and cannot provide these certified items, please contact us on seafarers@maritimenz.govt.nz or 0508 732 237.
- All other documents do not need to be certified or countersigned.
- Please do not send original documents, only electronic copies.
- If you are renewing a certificate, we do not need you to send the original expiring certificate.
When providing us with electronic copies of documents, please make sure the scanned copies are legible and of a good quality.
If you are unable to provide your application documents to us electronically, we recommend you contact us so we can make alternative arrangements for you.
Contact us
Find out how to contact us
The best way of contacting us is by email
We are monitoring our email and will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Please use the following email address:
ship.registration@maritimenz.govt.nz for Part A and Part B registrations
Alternatively you can use our online enquiry form.
Contact us online
If you don't have email
We are still answering the phones but there may be a delay in our response times.
New Zealand (toll free): 0508 225 522
Calling from outside New Zealand: +64 4 473 0111
About registration
Ship registration provides nationality; a registered ship that travels overseas has the protection of the New Zealand Government. The registration papers provide proof of identity.
Additional benefits depend on the type of registration that a ship has. The type of registration required for a vessel depends on several factors, including:
- if the ship will be used commercially or for pleasure
- the length of the ship
- if the ship is New Zealand or foreign owned
- if the ship will go overseas
To determine whether you need to register your ship and, if so, the type of registration you need to apply for, use our flow chart.
Further information can be found in our ship registration guide.
How to register your vessel
There are two types of ship registration and for some ships it is compulsory* to be registered:
All transactions regarding ship registration involve making changes to the New Zealand Register of Ships. For example:
- changing your registered address/vessel ownership
- closing a registration
- appointing a representative person
- getting a replacement Certificate of Registration
New Zealand Register of Ships
The New Zealand Register of Ships is a list of all vessels registered in New Zealand under the Ship Registration Act 1992.
The register, held in Maritime New Zealand’s Wellington office, is available for inspection by the public. The Registrar of Ships is responsible for maintaining the register.
The register has two parts (Part A and Part B) and includes details of those ships which must be registered under the Ship Registration Act 1992 and those ships whose owners have voluntarily chosen to register them.
Searching the register
Search for a name
Use this search tool to find out if the name of a vessel or ship is available for registration.