At their meeting on 22 September 2026, Executive Council approved the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 2026. The new Regulations set out the rules for registering ships under the St Helena flag and are an important step in the development of the St Helena Ship Registry.
What Do The Regulations Do?
The Regulations govern how ships are registered in St Helena. They set out who may own a registered ship, how ownership and mortgages are recorded, the certificates a ship must hold, and the powers of the Registrar of Ships. The Regulations are closely modelled on the equivalent United Kingdom regulations, so eligible vessel owners and their advisers will be familiar with the compliance requirements.
Why does St Helena Have A Ship Registry?
St Helena has operated a Ship Registry for many years as part of the Red Ensign Group – the family of British registries which includes the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories. Ships on the St Helena Register fly the Red Ensign.
In June of this year, Executive Council approved the continuation and development of the Ship Registry. The benefits to St Helena are:
1. Income. The Ship Registry generates a net benefit for the St Helena Government. A cost-benefit analysis considered a range of operating scenarios over the next 10 years. It indicates that the Registry is expected to deliver a net benefit to the Island after all costs have been met.
2. Wider economic value. St Helena’s registered fishing vessels operate in the South Atlantic under licence. The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has confirmed that these vessels make an important contribution to the South Georgia fisheries.
3. Standing. Operating a registry that meets international standards supports St Helena’s reputation as a well-regulated jurisdiction and sits alongside the wider work to develop financial services and the company registry.
4. Skills and jobs. As the Registry grows, so does the need for local expertise in maritime administration, survey and inspection work.
Safety And Standards
Operating a Ship Registry carries significant responsibilities. As a Flag State, St Helena is responsible for the safety of ships that fly its flag and the welfare of the people who work on them. The development project now underway reflects that responsibility. St Helena is strengthening its Maritime Authority to ensure proper oversight of ships on its Register.
What Happens Next
The Regulations are the first major milestone in a 12-month development project agreed with the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The project is overseen by a joint Project Board with the Agency, and the remaining work includes:
- Appointing a qualified surveyor so that St Helena can conduct and oversee inspections and surveys and issue certificates;
- Putting agreements in place with recognised organisations to carry out survey work on the Registry’s behalf;
- Ensuring there are further regulations to apply international conventions covering protecting the marine environment and conditions of work in the fishing industry; and
- Strengthening the staffing, systems and procedures of the Maritime Authority.
Local Boats Are Not Affected
The Regulations apply to the International Ship Register only. They do not change current arrangements for local boat owners. There is no intention to bring local vessels onto the Ship Register unless their owners wish to do so. Local vessels will continue to be dealt with under separate arrangements.
Minister for Safety, Security and Home Affairs, Gillian Brooks, said:
“Approving these Regulations is a significant step for St Helena. The Registry brings real income to the island and supports an important South Atlantic fishery, but it also carries a duty of care to every person working on a ship that flies our flag. This programme is about meeting that duty properly. I thank everyone whose work has brought us to this point, and I look forward to reporting further progress over the coming year.”
#StHelena #ShipRegistry #Maritime