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Registering in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands (bareboat-in)

If you, as a shipowner in the Netherlands, take a seagoing vessel that is registered outside of the Netherlands on bareboat charter, you can register this seagoing vessel in the rompbevrachtingsregister (bareboat charter register) of the Netherlands. This is called bareboat-in. You can request this declaration from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).

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How to register a seagoing vessel in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands

To register a seagoing vessel registered outside of the Netherlands in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands, use the Application bareboat charter registration and certificate of registration merchant shipping online form.

When you have provided all necessary attachments, you will receive a zeebrief (Certificate of Registry) from the ILT within the time frame specified by the Algemene wet bestuursrecht, Awb (General Administrative Law Act, in Dutch). With this Certificate of Registry, the seagoing vessel will sail under the Dutch flag for the period specified on the certificate.

Conditions for admission to the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands

To be admitted to the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands, you must meet the following conditions:

  • The vessel is registered outside of the Netherlands.
  • You must have proof of the bareboat agreement (BIMCO or other charter agreement) between the charterer and vessel owner.
  • The vessel must not fly the flag of the state where it is registered as long as it is registered in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands.

You can read more about the requirements for registering vessels that are registered outside of the Netherlands in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands in the Wet nationaliteit zeeschepen in rompbevrachting (Seagoing Vessels under Bareboat Charter (Nationality) Act, in Dutch).

Required attachments for bareboat charter registration

Depending on your legal status, you will need to provide different attachments to register in the bareboat charter register of the Netherlands. In all cases, you must provide:

  • Extract from the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce): no more than 3 months old.
  • Bareboat agreement (BIMCO or other charter agreement).
  • Authentic copy of the registration of the seagoing vessel abroad: no more than 3 months old.
  • Statement that the legislation of the state where the vessel is registered does not prevent it from flying the Dutch flag.
  • Copy of the class certificate of the engine, including at least the engine speed, engine power and engine number.
  • Copy of the (provisional) international meetbrief (Tonnage Certificate, in Dutch).

Additionally, you must provide copies of the necessary documentation based on your legal status:

Costs for registering in the bareboat charter register

The fee for registration in the bareboat charter register is specified in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Regulation on fees for transport sectors of the Netherlands, in Dutch).

Validity of the Certificate of Registry

The Certificate of Registry is valid for the duration of the charter agreement, up to a maximum of 4 years. After that, you must apply for a new Certificate of Registry using the Application bareboat charter registration and certificate of registration merchant shipping online form. As a bareboat charterer, you can also request the removal of your registration from the bareboat charter register.