Bareboat charter registration

Bareboat charter registration allows a vessel to fly the flag of one state (the bareboat-in flag) while retaining its underlying registration in another (the parent flag). This creates distinct labour, tax, and regulatory outcomes than the parent flag would. This directory covers the 12 major bareboat-in registries + the parent flags each accepts.

Bareboat charter registration is often the mechanism behind unusual flag-owner combinations you see on ship records — a Cypriot owner flying Malta flag, a Danish owner on DIS, a Norwegian owner on NIS. Each generates distinct labour + tax outcomes.

• MLT

  Parent flags accepted

  CYP, GRC, LUX

  Duration

  2 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  Maltese flag CBA (or ITF Uniform TCC on FoC vessels)

  Tax regime

  Maltese tonnage tax + reduced corporate tax

  Maltese bareboat-in is popular for Cypriot + Greek owners seeking EU-flag + tonnage-tax benefits. Duration typically 2 years renewable.

• ATG

  Parent flags accepted

  Any

  Duration

  5 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  Any nationality; STCW compliance

  Tax regime

  Zero personal income tax

  Wide flexibility. Antigua accepts bareboat-in from virtually any parent flag. Popular for yacht + smaller commercial fleet.

• PRT (MAR — Madeira International Ship Register)

  Parent flags accepted

  Any EU + selected non-EU

  Duration

  5 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  MAR framework — reduced Portuguese labour cost

  Tax regime

  EU tonnage tax + reduced Madeira tax

  Portuguese Madeira second-registry accepts bareboat-in from EU flags for tax + crewing benefits.

• NOR (NIS)

  Parent flags accepted

  NOR (NOR — primary)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  NIS foreign-crewed under NIS overenskomst

  Tax regime

  NIS Skattefradrag 30% refund

  Norwegian two-tier structure — NOR (primary) vessels can bareboat-in to NIS (second registry) for foreign-crewed operations.

• FRA (RIF)

  Parent flags accepted

  FRA (metropolitan)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  RIF framework — reduced French crewing cost

  Tax regime

  RIF tonnage tax

  French Registre International Français second-registry accepts French metropolitan vessels for foreign-crewed operations.

• DNK (DIS)

  Parent flags accepted

  DNK (primary)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  DIS foreign-crewed

  Tax regime

  DIS tax exemption

  Danish DIS second-registry accepts Danish primary-flag vessels.

• ITA (IIRS)

  Parent flags accepted

  ITA (primary)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  IIRS framework — reduced Italian labour cost

  Tax regime

  IIRS tonnage tax

  Italian International Registro Navale second-registry.

• ESP (REC — Canary Islands Second Register)

  Parent flags accepted

  ESP (primary)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  REC foreign-crewed

  Tax regime

  Canary Islands special tax regime

  Spanish Canary Islands second-registry.

• DEU (ISR)

  Parent flags accepted

  DEU (primary)

  Duration

  Indefinite

  Labour regime

  ISR foreign-crewed under German framework

  Tax regime

  German tonnage tax

  German International Ship Register second-registry.

• NLD

  Parent flags accepted

  Any EU

  Duration

  2 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  Dutch CBA framework

  Tax regime

  Dutch tonnage tax

  Netherlands accepts EU bareboat-in for 2-year renewable periods.

• SGP

  Parent flags accepted

  Any

  Duration

  2 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  Singapore CBA + STCW compliance

  Tax regime

  Singapore tonnage tax + zero foreign-earned tax

  Singapore accepts wide bareboat-in for tax + regulatory efficiency. Popular for Asian owners.

• IMN (Isle of Man Ship Registry)

  Parent flags accepted

  Any

  Duration

  2 years, renewable

  Labour regime

  IoM CBA framework

  Tax regime

  IoM tonnage tax

  Isle of Man Ship Registry accepts wide bareboat-in. British Red Ensign eligible.