Isle of Man: Guidance on tonnage measurement and certification for vessels under 24 meters

Eda Zenic -

The Isle of Man Ship Registry amended the Registry Advice Notice RAN 03 titled Tonnage and Measurement of Ships under 24m Overall Length.

This document was published on 14 August 2024.

1. Introduction

The document outlines the requirements for tonnage measurement and certification for ships under 24 meters in overall length that are intended to be registered with the Isle of Man Ship Registry. This excludes small ships registered on the small ships register and fishing vessels, which are covered under different notices (RAN 04 for ships 24 meters or over and RAN 10 for fishing vessels).

Before a ship can be registered, it must undergo a survey to determine its tonnage, which is a critical metric used in various maritime regulations. The survey is conducted in accordance with Part III of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1998. The resulting 'Certificate of Survey (Tonnage Measurement)' must be obtained to complete the registration process.

2. Survey and Certification

  • Initial Survey: The initial tonnage measurement and certification must be performed by a recognized Certifying Authority (as listed in Section 3). Once the certificate is issued, there is no requirement for ongoing surveys specifically related to tonnage unless changes are made to the vessel.
  • Changes to the Vessel: If any significant changes occur to the ship that might affect its tonnage, such as alterations in its structure, capacity, use of spaces, the number of passengers, assigned load line, or permitted draft, the current tonnage measurement becomes invalid. In such cases, the ship’s existing Certificate of Survey must be returned to the issuing authority for cancellation, and a new survey must be arranged to re-measure the vessel and issue a new certificate.
  • Changes in Name or Port of Registry: While changes to the ship’s name or its port of registry do not affect the tonnage, these changes still necessitate an update to the Certificate of Survey. The certificate must either be amended or re-issued by a Certifying Authority to reflect these changes. It is advised that the ship’s owner or operator contacts the Isle of Man Ship Registry before proceeding with any changes to ensure proper compliance.

3. Certifying Authorities

The document lists several authorized Certifying Authorities that are recognized by the Isle of Man Ship Registry to undertake tonnage measurements for ships under 24 meters in length. These authorities include:

  • International Institute of Marine Surveying
    • Location: Portchester, UK
    • Contact: +44 (0) 23 9238 5223, ca@iims.org.uk
  • MECAL Ltd
  • Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
  • SCMS
    • Location: Southampton, UK
    • Contact: +44 (0) 23 8001 6494, sec@scmshq.org
  • Yacht Designers & Surveyors Association (YBDSA)
    • Location: Petersfield, Hampshire, UK
    • Contact: +44 (0) 17 3071 0425, dawn@ybdsa.co.uk

These authorities are capable of conducting the necessary surveys and issuing the required certification for vessels under the specified length.