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Enterprise Solutions

Registering and Operating Vessels Under the Mauritius Flag

We handle vessel registration, fleet administration, crew employment, and insurance for shipowners and operators using Mauritius as their flag and operating base.

Overview

Flag, Fleet, Crew, and Insurance, Coordinated From One Place

Maritime Services covers the full range of work involved in bringing a vessel under the Mauritius flag and operating it from a Mauritius-based entity, registration, ongoing fleet administration, crew employment, and insurance.

We register vessels under the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, administer the entity that owns and operates them, arrange crew employment and payroll, and structure captive insurance for vessel risk, coordinating what's usually handled by several separate providers.

Quick Turnaround
Certificate of Registration
Once documentation is submitted, following provisional registration.
0% Income Tax
On Freight & Shipping Income
Foreign vessel owners pay no tax on operational income, with no capital gains tax on vessel or share sales.
No Nationality Restriction
Crew Employment
No restrictions on crew nationality, and no work permits required for seafarers.

What We Provide

Key Features

Vessel Registration
Registering vessels under the Mauritius flag under the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, from provisional through to permanent registration.
Owning Entity Formation
Establishing the Global Business Company or Authorised Company that will own and operate the vessel.
Fleet & Vessel Administration
Ongoing administration of registered vessels, including mortgaging, classification society liaison, and compliance renewals.
Crew Employment & Payroll
Structuring seafarer employment agreements and payroll, in line with the Maritime Labour Convention.
Captive Insurance for Vessels
Structuring captive insurance to retain Hull & Machinery and Protection & Indemnity (P&I) risk within the group's own structure.
Ongoing Compliance Support
Supporting classification society certification renewals and compliance with ratified maritime conventions.

Scope of Service

Maritime Services We Provide

Ship & Yacht Registration
Registering commercial vessels, yachts, and fishing vessels under the Mauritius flag.
Fleet & Vessel Management
Ongoing administration of registered vessels, including mortgaging and compliance renewals.
Crew Employment & Payroll
Seafarer employment agreements and payroll administration, compliant with the Maritime Labour Convention.
Captive Insurance for Vessels
Structuring a captive to retain Hull & Machinery and P&I risk, coordinated with our Captive Insurance & Risk Structuring service.

Process

How It Works

01
Vessel & Ownership Assessment
Reviewing the vessel, its intended use, and the ownership structure needed.
02
Entity Formation
Establishing the Global Business Company or Authorised Company to own and operate the vessel.
03
Provisional Registration
Submitting the registration application for provisional registration, valid up to three months.
04
Documentation & Certification
Finalising classification society certification and compliance documentation.
05
Permanent Registration
Converting to permanent registration once documentation is complete.
06
Ongoing Fleet, Crew & Insurance Support
Managing fleet administration, crew employment, and insurance on an ongoing basis.

Requirements

Requirements & Eligibility

When This Service Applies

  • A shipowner or operator wants to register a vessel under the Mauritius flag
  • A group wants to consolidate vessel ownership, crewing, and insurance under one Mauritius-based structure
  • An existing Mauritius-registered vessel needs ongoing fleet administration or crew payroll support

Registration Considerations

  • Vessels must generally be under 15 years old and at least 24 metres in length, except fishing vessels
  • Vessels of 500 gross tonnes or more require classification society certification
  • Foreign owners need a Mauritius-resident individual or majority Mauritius-held entity to hold the registration

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Commercial vessels, yachts, fishing vessels, dredgers, and vessels under construction, generally under 15 years old and at least 24 metres in length, except fishing vessels. Vessels of 500 gross tonnes or more need classification society certification.
Vessels first receive provisional registration, valid for up to three months, while documentation is finalised. Once the required documents are submitted, the Certificate of Registration is typically issued within 2-3 days, ahead of permanent registration.
Foreign vessel owners are exempt from income tax on freight and shipping income, with no capital gains tax on vessel or share sales, no dividend withholding tax, and duty exemptions on ship stores and spares. Seafarers are exempt from personal income tax.
No, Mauritius imposes no restrictions on crew nationality, and no work permits are required for seafarers. We structure employment agreements and payroll in line with the Maritime Labour Convention.
Yes, a captive can retain Hull & Machinery and Protection & Indemnity (P&I) risk within the group's own structure, rather than relying solely on commercial marine cover. This runs through our Captive Insurance & Risk Structuring service.
Yes, bareboat-chartered vessels can be dual-flagged, registered in Mauritius alongside another registry, for charter periods of at least two years.

Continue Exploring

Related Services

Captive Insurance & Risk Structuring
Structuring captive insurance for vessel Hull & Machinery and P&I risk.
Learn More about Captive Insurance & Risk Structuring →
Global Business Company
The entity structure typically used to own and operate registered vessels.
Learn More about Global Business Company →
Authorised Company
An alternative entity structure for vessel ownership.
Learn More about Authorised Company →

Register or Operate a Vessel from Mauritius

Speak with our team about registering your vessel under the Mauritius flag, and managing its fleet, crew, and insurance.

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