Vessel Eligibility and Survey Requirements

Vessel Tonnage
Seagoing vessels of more than 500 net tons, engaged in foreign trade are eligible for registration in Liberia. Measurement of vessels shall be in accordance with the International Convention on Measurement of Ships currently in force, as amended.

Vessel Age 
Vessels should be not more than 20 years of age at the time of registration, computed from completion of first construction, on January 1 of the year in which initial registration or re-registration is sought. However, vessels older than twenty (20) years may be granted a waiver for registration on application by owner if approved by the Marine Operations and Standards Department based on consideration of the vessel’s material condition, history of port state control, and industry inspection records and other criteria determined on case by case basis.

Vessel Classification
Current classification of a vessel in accordance to approved seaworthiness standards and documents requested by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Conventions for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships to which the Republic of Liberia is a party shall be accepted as evidence the vessel is in seaworthy condition. 

All vessels are required to be classed by a Classification Society that is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The following Classification Societies are currently approved for the issuance of International Convention Statutory Certificates on behalf of the Administration:

  • American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
  • Bureau Veritas (BV)
  • China Classification Society (CS)
  • Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS)
  • DNV GL Group
  • Korean Register of Shipping (KRS)
  • Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (LR)
  • Maritime Register of Shipping (MRS)
  • Nippon Kaijai Kyokai (NKK)
  • Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)

  
Additionally, the Liberian Registry has a worldwide network of Safety and Security auditors specially trained and able to offer Liberia’s unique Harmonized ISM and ISPS Code Certifications.