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Ownership structures

Ownership structures

The Gibraltar ship registry offers an extensive range of ownership structures. These include: 1. Individual; 2. Joint-owners; 3. Companies; Gibraltar has a wide ownership eligibility criteria accepting individuals and companies from around the globe. For further information on accepted nationalities for qualifying persons please contact our Registry staff.

The GMA is to ensure compliance on eligible qualified persons applying for registration of a vessel in Gibraltar.Gibraltar accepts different ownership structures. These are summarised as follows:

  1. Individuals and joint-owners;
  2. Companies.

Individual and Joint OwnersThe following persons can register a vessel in Gibraltar (i.e. “Qualified Persons”)( Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Registration) Regulations 1997 Part I Regulation 2C ):

  1. British citizens;
  2. British Overseas Territories citizens;
  3. Persons who under the British Nationality Act 1981, are British subjects;
  4. Persons who under the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986, are British Nationals (Overseas);
  5. Commonwealth citizens;
  6. Nationals of an EEA State;
  7. Citizens of the following “Approved” countries:
    a) Argentina; (b) Aruba; (c) Bahrain; (d) Brazil; (e) the Canary Islands; (f) China; (g) the Faroe Islands; (h) Haiti; (i) Israel; (j) Japan; (k) Liberia; (l) Madeira; (m) the Marshall Islands; (n) Monaco; (o) Panama; (p) South Korea; (q) Switzerland; (r) Suriname; (s) the United Arab Emirates; and (t) the United States of America.
    *Approved countries as defined in Schedule 9 of the Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Ship Registration) Regulations 1997

Where “Qualified Persons” are not residents in Gibraltar, he/she will have to appoint a representative person (Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Registration) Regulations 1997 Part III Regulations 5, 6 and 7).

The following Companies can register a vessel in Gibraltar:

  1. Bodies corporate or legal entities incorporated, established or registered:
  1. Under the laws of Gibraltar, United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, EEA State; or
  2. Under the law of a Commonwealth State;
  3. Under the law of an “approved country”
    (a) Argentina; (b) Aruba; (c) Bahrain; (d) Brazil; (e) the Canary Islands; (f) China; (g) the Faroe Islands; (h) Haiti; (i) Israel; (j) Japan; (k) Liberia; (l) Madeira; (m) the Marshall Islands; (n) Monaco; (o) Panama; (p) South Korea; (q) Switzerland; (r) Suriname; (s) the United Arab Emirates; and (t) the United States of America.
    *Approved countries as defined in Schedule 9 of the Gibraltar Merchant Shipping (Ship Registration) Regulations 1997
  4. A foreign Maritime Entity

The Companies eligible as per above will be required to:

  1. Have their principal place of business in Gibraltar; or;
  2. Have appointed a representative person.

Companies House is responsible for the registers of corporate and other ownership entities in Gibraltar.