Bareboat registration

Bareboat registration means that a ship is entered in two ship registers at the same time for a limited period of time. During this period, the ship may only sail under the flag of the bareboat-in register.  Not all registers allow bareboat registration.

"Bareboat-in" to the Danish flag means that a ship, that is registered with its primary state in a ship register other than the Danish Ship Registry, will be allowed to fly the Danish flag for a period of time.

"Bareboat out" from the Danish flag means that, a ship with its primary state in the Danish Ship Registry, is allowed to fly a flag other than Danish for a period of time.  "Bareboat out" is only allowed to countries included on the "bareboat list"(link til hjemmesiden). The list is dynamic and several countries can be included, see the Ship Registration Order § 27 (link).

Since 1996, Denmark has allowed

1. "Bareboat in" registration of merchant ships, including passenger ships, from all ship registers
2. "Bareboat out" registration of all ships from the Danish Ship Register (DAS) and the Danish International Ship register (DIS). It is a prerequisite for both 'bareboat in' and 'bareboat out' registration to and from Danish registers that the foreign register consents to either releasing or receiving ships on bareboat registration terms.

During the bareboat-registration-period, the owner and right registration remains in the register where the ship has its primary state and is registered as bareboat-out. This means that no rights can be registered for a ship with a bareboat-in registration.

The ship registrar issues certificate of nationality to ships which are registered as bareboat-in. The certificate is limited in time to the registered bareboat period and is no longer valid when the period ends. A new certificate is issued if the registration is extended.

When a Danish ship is registered as bareboat-out, the ship's Danish nationality certificate is invalidated. The bareboat-in register issues a new nationality certificate. When the ship then again flies the Danish flag, you must

The rules on Danish bareboat registration can be found in the Danish Maritime Act §§ 22 – 27 "(link), the DIS act Chapter 4 A" (link), as well as in the Ship Registration Executive Orders for ships with port of registry in Denmark and Greenland respectively (link to bek. chap. 4).

A. Digital report

See guide on bareboat-in registration

B. Report, when digital report cannot be done

See the Ship Registration Executive Orders for ships with port of registry in Denmark and Greenland respectively (link), § 25 and § 23 respectively.

Report is made using form II 21 on bareboat-in report (link til blanketten) and with appendices.

A. Digital report

See guide on bareboat out registration

B. Report, when digital report cannot be done

See the Ship Registration Executive Orders for ships with port of registry in Denmark § 28 and Greenland § 26 respectively (link til hhv. § 28 hhv. § 26.)

Report is made using form II 12, report bareboat-out (link til blanketten) and with appendices.

A. Digital report

See instructions on extending bareboat out registration or extending bareboat-in registration.

B. Report when digital notification cannot be done

See the Ship Registration Executive Orders for ships with port of registry in Denmark § 30 and Greenland § 28 respectively (link § 30 hhv. § 28.)

Reports are made using form II 21, report bareboat-in (link til blanket), or with form II 12, report bareboat-out (link til blanket) and with appendices

Such changes must be reported similarly to non-bareboat registered ships. The changes cannot be reported digitally in DSRG and must always be registered manually by the ship registrar.

If there is any doubt as to whether the change may have an impact on the consent given, and thus the continued bareboat registration, based on the opinion of the foreign registry, the ship registrar will investigate whether a report for a completely new bareboat registration should be filed.

In cases where one of the parties is replaced or changes identity, e.g. by fission, the registered party ceases and a new report must be filed including the new parties, if the bareboat registration of the ship is to be continued.