E-Avis ISDC 2018-15 MARITIME REGISTRATION Euromar/Portugal, Germany, Hong Kong, Liberia, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Sweden, Antigua & Barbuda Current to: 6 April 2018 Please refer to as: K. Nadakavukaren / A. Aronovitz / J. Curran / S. De Dycker / J. Fournier / N. Strainer / M. Sychold / S. Tscheulin / H. Westermark, Legal Opinion on Maritime Registration, current to : 6 April 2018 E-Avis ISDC 2018-15, available on www.isdc.ch. This text may be downloaded for personal research purposes only. The Swiss Institute of Comparative Law does not accept liability for any other use of the text. Any additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copy or electronically, requires the consent of the Institute. E-Avis ISDC Série de publications électroniques d’avis de droit de l’ISDC / Elektronische Publikationsreihe von Gutachten des SIR / Serie di pubblicazioni elettroniche di pareri dell’Istituto svizzero di diritto comparato / Series of Electronic Publications of Legal Opinions of the SICL 17-183 2 Table des matières I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 5 A. EUROMAR/PORTUGAL .............................................................................................................. 10 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 10 1.1. Background on role of shipping in local economy ................................................................. 10 1.2. Portugal’s two maritime registers ........................................................................................ 10 1.3. Background on ship registration (who is responsible; where are the laws/ordinances found; how often are they adjusted) .............................................................................................. 13 1.4. Any current discussions as to registration requirements ....................................................... 14 2. Questions .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1. What are the conditions on registration for the various categories of internationally active commercial high seas ships? This should include a differentiation among different types of ships (e.g., passenger ships, tankers, cargo ships) ................................................................. 14 2.2. What are the requirements regarding the revocation of a licence/flag? ................................. 17 2.3. What are the supervisory obligations toward fleets, ship owners, and seafarer recruitment and placement services (SRPS)? ................................................................................................. 18 2.4. To what types of taxes are shipowners and fleetowners subject? .......................................... 19 2.5. What is the fee system used by the officials?........................................................................ 21 B. DEUTSCHLAND .......................................................................................................................... 24 1. Einleitung .................................................................................................................................. 24 1.1. Hintergrundinformationen zur Rolle der Schifffahrt in der nationalen Wirtschaft ................... 24 1.2. Hintergrundinformationen zur Schiffsregistrierung ............................................................... 24 1.3. Werbung für die Deutschen Flagge ...................................................................................... 27 1.4. Aktuelle Diskussion zu Registrierungsbedingungen ............................................................... 28 2. Fragen ...................................................................................................................................... 29 2.1. Registrierungsbedingungen, Schiffszertifikate, Schiffsbesetzung ............................................... 29 2.2. Bewilligungsentzug (angeordnete Entlassung aus der Flagge) .................................................... 34 2.3. Aufsichtsbestimmungen ......................................................................................................... 35 2.4. Besteuerungsarten ............................................................................................................. 39 2.5. Gebührenregelungen .......................................................................................................... 39 C. HONG KONG ............................................................................................................................. 41 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 41 1.1. Background on the role of shipping ............................................................................................. 41 3 1.2. Background on ship registration .................................................................................................. 41 1.3. Current discussions around registration requirements ............................................................... 43 2. Questions .................................................................................................................................. 44 2.1. Conditions on registration ........................................................................................................... 44 2.2. Requirements for revocation of flag/licence ............................................................................... 45 2.3. Supervisory obligations ................................................................................................................ 46 2.4. Taxes ............................................................................................................................................ 48 2.5. Fee system ................................................................................................................................... 49 2.6. Other charges ............................................................................................................................... 49 D. LIBERIA ..................................................................................................................................... 50 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 50 1.1. Background on role of shipping in local economy ....................................................................... 50 1.2. Background on ship registration (who is responsible; where are the laws/ordinances found; how often are they adjusted) ...................................................................................................... 51 1.3. Any current discussions as to registration requirements ............................................................ 63 2. Questions .................................................................................................................................. 63 2.1. What are the conditions on registration for the various categories of internationally active commercial high seas ships? This should include a differentiation among different types of ships (e.g., passenger ships, tankers, cargo ships) ....................................................................... 63 2.2. What are the requirements regarding the revocation of a licence/flag? .................................... 64 2.3. What are the supervisory obligations toward fleets, ship owners, and seafarer recruitment and placement services (SRPS)? ......................................................................................................... 64 2.4. To what types of taxes are ship-owners and fleet-owners subject? ........................................... 64 2.5. What is the fee system used by the officials? ............................................................................. 65 E. LUXEMBOURG .......................................................................................................................... 67 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 67 1.1. Background on the role of shipping ............................................................................................. 67 1.2. Background on ship registration .................................................................................................. 68 1.3. Current discussions around registration requirements ............................................................... 68 2. Questions .................................................................................................................................. 69 2.1. Conditions on registration ........................................................................................................... 69 2.2. Requirements for revocation of flag/licence ............................................................................... 72 2.3. Supervisory obligations ................................................................................................................ 72 2.4. Taxes ...........................................................................................................................................