Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)

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.

What the CSR records

Flag State — the state whose flag the ship flies.
Date of registration in that flag state.
Ship's identification number (IMO number).
Ship's name.
Port of registry.
Name of registered shipowner + registered address.
Name of registered bareboat charterer if applicable + registered address.
Name of Company as defined under ISM Code + registered address.
Name of Recognised Organisation issuing class certificate + statutory certificates.
Issuing date of the CSR.

Continuous means continuous

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.

Issuance + posting

Issued by flag state maritime administration. Not by class societies (though a flag state may delegate the mechanics to a class RO).
Kept on board and available for PSC inspection at any port call.
Master's responsibility to keep in order — request updated CSR from flag when a change occurs.
PSC verification — routinely checked at PSC inspection. Missing or defective CSR is a Category 1 or 2 finding.

Common CSR issues

Gaps or missing pages. Old vessels changing flag repeatedly can accumulate incomplete records; some flag states are slow to issue updated CSR.
Discrepancies with class certificates. If the CSR names one Company but the ISM DoC names another, the discrepancy needs resolving.
Sanctions + "dark fleet" vessels. Sanctions-linked vessels frequently exhibit CSR anomalies — rapid flag changes, opaque ownership, temporary Registrable Company deletions. CSR is used by OFAC + EU + UK sanctions investigators.
Change-of-flag delivery voyage. When a vessel transfers registry, the delivery voyage frequently sees a gap in the CSR that needs backfilling on arrival at the new port.

CSR + IMO Company Number

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.

FAQ

Who issues the Continuous Synopsis Record?

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.

Why does a gap in the CSR matter?

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.

Which SOLAS regulation requires the CSR?

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.

Primary source

Last verified 3 months ago