Mission

The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry seeks to ensure that Virgin Islands ships can safely, securely and efficiently enjoy the freedom of the seas and the support of a vigorous and effective Maritime Administration.

We will achieve this through:

• Implementing the Maritime policies of the Government covering shipping operations, safety of life at sea, security and the prevention of, and response to, pollution from ships;

• Implementing and enforcing the regulations applicable to all Virgin Islands vessels on both domestic and international routes, and for all vessels navigating in the territorial waters of the Virgin Islands;

• Developing and adopting appropriate standards of training, evaluation and certification for Virgin Islands seafarers and on-shore staff in accordance with the respective needs of international and domestic shipping and the BVI maritime industry; and

• Providing timely, accurate and appropriate information and advice to the Government, public and private sector organisations and the general public.

Why BVI

• Political Stability

• A reputable and successful offshore financial centre

• Leads the world in company formation

• Tax neutral

• Outside the scope of EU VAT laws

• Jurisdiction under English Common Law

• Mortgages enforceable worldwide

• Signatory to all IMO conventions

• Internationally recognised Large Yacht Code (LYC) as standard for construction and equipping large yachts

• Entitled to same protection as any other British ship

• Very competitive registration and annual fees

• Highly qualified registration and technical team.

Core Values

• To develop and operate an efficient, reputable and viable registry of ships and seafarers.

• To collaborate with public and private sector interests and institutions in the BVI, the Caribbean region and overseas.

• To strive to lessen the burden of obsolete regulations and the cost of compliance on BVI ship owners.

• To set an example of clear, consistent and open leadership of an effective team.

• To fully comply with the spirit and letter of international conventions, national regulations and the procedures of the Shipping Registry Quality Management System.

Service Standards

• To issue registration certificates within four working days (for small vessels under 24 metres) after the receipt of satisfactorily completed documents.

• On receipt of the signed carving and marking note, to issue the registration certificate within two working days (for merchant ships, pleasure vessels, fishing vessels and bareboat charter ships).

• Within seven days of the receipt of an application, to carry out an examination for a Boat Masters’ License (BML) – and to issue an appropriate certificate to any successful applicant.

• To issue the renewal BML within two working days.

• To commence surveys and inspection on the day requested if a minimum of one week’s notice is given.

• To complete approval of plans or stability information documents within 28 days.

• To respond to letters, faxes and e-mails within three working days.

• To answer the telephone by the third ring. To carry out Port State Control (PSC) Inspection more than the target of 15% assigned under the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on PSC in the Caribbean Region.

Our Department

View our organisational structure.

Department Contact Information

To make contact with Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, see below for contact information:

Virgin Islands Shipping Registry
1st Floor Ritter House, 
Wickham's Cay II
Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110
 
Business Hours:

Monday - Friday  
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Email Address: vishipping@bvimaritime.vg

Reception/General Office:  1(284) 393-0000
Ag. Director:  1(284) 468-9499
Registrar:  1(284) 468-9648
Asst. Registrar:  1(284) 468-9501
Snr Marine Surveyor:  1(284) 468-9572
Snr Marine Officer:  1(284) 468-9180
Fax: 1(284) 468-2913

WEBSITE: https://bvimaritime.vg/