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.