Step by step guide to registration of Small Ships joining Part III of the UK Ship Register
This guide is designed to help you through the registration process by identifying the procedures and documentation required for small ships applying to join Part III of the UK Ship Register.
The Small Ships Register is a simple, cheap way of registering which proves the ship’s nationality. It does not register ‘Title’ and you cannot register a mortgage. This register is not for companies, fishing or submersible vessels or vessels 24 metres or over in length.
Eligibility
To be eligible to register a ship on Part III of the UK Ship Register applications need to be made by either a British Citizen; Non-UK citizens exercising their EU right of freedom of movement or worker’s right for establishment; British Dependent Territories citizens; British Overseas citizens; People who are British subjects under the British Nationality Act 1981; People who are British Nationals (overseas) under Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986; Commonwealth citizens not falling within this paragraph.
For the purpose of registering a small ship it means an owner lives in the UK for periods which add up to 185 days or more in a 12 month period. If you are a resident in the UK for tax purposes, you will generally be regarded as a resident.
How to Register
You will need to complete a ship registration application form which can be completed and submitted via this website through the link above, together with the appropriate fee(s) paid by credit card or submitted electronically by BACS details of which, along with our current fee structure, are available on this website.
Alternatively, your application 
(20Kb) can be posted along with the appropriate fee(s) to:
UK Ship Register – RSS,
Anchor Court,
Ocean Way
Cardiff
CF24 5JW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)29 2044 8813
Email: ssr_registry@mcga.gov.uk
