Document
library

Ship Registration Explained: Legal, Technical and Commercial Requirements (ARK-KH-SRF-2026-001 Rev. 02)

This paper explains the legal, technical and commercial requirements of ship registration and compares five leading registries: Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, Singapore and Hong Kong. All five are on the Paris MoU White List, but they differ on who may own a ship, how old a ship they accept, and whether bareboat registration is allowed. It sets out the registration process, the main risks and practical recommendations, with every regulatory statement confirmed against official sources.