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The Continuous Synopsis Record is the on-board historical record of a ship's flag, ownership, and Recognised Organisation history. Required under SOLAS Regulation XI-1/5 since 1 July 2004, its purpose is to provide an on-board audit trail of significant vessel-identity changes — for use by port state control, casualty investigators, and law enforcement. The CSR is a security-focused instrument, adopted post-9/11 alongside the ISPS Code as part of the broader maritime security regime.
The CSR must reflect every relevant change over the vessel's life without gap. When a change occurs (change of flag, owner, name, Company, RO), the flag state issues a new CSR page — but the older pages remain on board. A ship with a long history may carry a substantial CSR document reflecting decades of changes. Any gap in the CSR is a red flag for PSC + fraud investigators — evidence of possible false-flag activity, sanctions evasion, or ownership concealment.
The IMO Company Number (7-digit numeric identifier) is assigned to shipowning/managing companies + is recorded on the CSR. This links the CSR to broader IMO databases (GISIS + IMO Company + Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme). The Company Number remains permanent even as the company changes name — an important integrity mechanism against corporate name-change concealment.
The flag state's maritime administration issues the CSR, not the classification society — although a flag state may delegate the administrative mechanics to a Recognised Organisation acting on its behalf. Each relevant change (of flag, owner, name, ISM Company or RO) prompts the flag state to issue a new CSR page, while the earlier pages stay on board.
The record is meant to be continuous, so any gap or missing page is a red flag for port state control and for casualty, fraud and sanctions investigators — it can indicate false-flag activity, sanctions evasion or deliberate concealment of ownership. Missing or defective CSR documentation is a routine PSC finding.
SOLAS Regulation XI-1/5, in force since 1 July 2004. It was adopted as part of the post-9/11 maritime security package alongside the ISPS Code, to give authorities an on-board audit trail of a ship's identity and ownership history.
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