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Registering a merchant ship under bareboat charter in the Netherlands’ flag register (bareboat-in)

If you are a Netherlands-based shipping company that is chartering a merchant ship that was registered outside the Netherlands, you must apply to register the vessel in the bareboat charter section of the Nederlands vlagregister (Netherlands flag register) through the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). The vessel will be issued a bareboat-in-zeebrief (bareboat-in Certificate of Registry), which specifies the period during which the vessel is entitled to fly the Dutch flag.

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Conditions

To register a vessel in the bareboat charter section of the Netherlands flag register, the following conditions apply:

  • The vessel was registered as property in a ship register outside the Netherlands.
  • The country of registration provides a legal framework for bareboat-out arrangements.
  • As the bareboat charterer, you have a place of business in the Netherlands. Using another company’s registered office as your domicile is not permitted for bareboat charters.
  • You have a bareboat charter agreement in a recognised format, for example the BIMCO format or another type of charter agreement, between the bareboat owner and the bareboat charterer.
  • The vessel does not fly the flag of the country of registration while it is listed in the Netherlands flag register.

Required attachments

You must upload several attachments with your application when applying to register a vessel under the bareboat charter section of the Netherlands flag register:

  • A copy of the international meetbrief (Tonnage Certificate, in Dutch) or provisional international Tonnage Certificate.
  • An extract from the Kamer van Koophandel, KVK (Netherlands Chamber of Commerce), no more than 3 months old.
  • The bareboat charter agreement (BIMCO or other recognised charter agreement).
  • An official extract of the vessel’s registration outside the Netherlands, no more than 3 months old.
  • A statement confirming that the laws of the country of registration do not prevent the vessel from flying the Dutch flag.
  • A copy of the engine class certificate including the engine’s Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), power output and engine number.  

Additionally, you must upload attachments depending on your legal status as the bareboat charterer:

Applying for registration with a bareboat-in Certificate of Registry

To register a vessel in the bareboat charter section of the Netherlands flag register, use the online form Application for a seagoing vessel to fly the Dutch flag.

Once your application has been approved, the ILT will issue the bareboat-in Certificate of Registry. Your vessel will be listed under the bareboat charter section of the Netherlands flag register for the duration of the bareboat charter agreement.

Costs

In 2025, the following fees apply to bareboat charterers:

  • Registration in the bareboat charter section of the Netherlands flag register: €1,905.
  • Amendment of the registration in the Netherlands flag register: €205.
  • Amendment of the date or duration of the bareboat charter agreement: €584.
  • Issuance of a bareboat-in Certificate of Registry: €215.

These fees are set out in the Regeling tarieven transportsectoren (Transportation Sectors Tariffs Scheme, in Dutch) and may change annually.

Validity

The bareboat-in Certificate of Registry is valid for the duration of the bareboat charter agreement, up to a maximum of 4 years. After this period, you must apply for a new certificate using the online form Application for a seagoing vessel to fly the Dutch flag.