Maritime Safety and Security Services

Maritime Safety and Security Regulation  

The process of registration involves the observance of the requirements and formalities prescribed under the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships and Licensing of Vessels) Regulations, 2005, which set, among other requirements, the qualifications for owning, registering and licensing of Tanzanian ships. In addition, due regard must be given to a number of international conventions issued under IMO regulatory regime.

1. Registering and licensing ships.
2. Overseeing engagement and welfare of seafarers.
3. Overseeing manning of vessels, qualifications and training of seafarers.
4. Dealing with seafarers affairs.
5. Developing Merchant Shipping Regulations and forwarding to the Minister responsible for shipping for approval and signing.
6. Dealing with prevention of collisions of ships issues and safety of navigation, including investigation of accidents.
7. Surveying and inspecting of vessels and issuing the relevant safety certificates including
   • Appointment of surveyors
   • Flag state activities
   • Port state activities
8. Measuring the tonnage of ships.
9. Marking of ships i.e. load lines.
10. Ensuring that unsafe ships do not operate due to:
    • Unsuitability for its purpose of machinery or equipment.
    • Under manning.
    • Overloading or unsafe or improper loading.
    • Any other matter relevant to the safety of the ship.
11. Dealing with wrecks, including, removal of wrecks.
12. Overseeing matters related to maritime security including ship and port facility security.
13. Overseeing matters relating to coordination of the national maritime search and rescue activities.
14. Overseeing matters related to the prevention of marine pollution from ships.
15. Overseeing matters relating to port safety.
16. Initiating the ratification and implementation of the relevant maritime conventions.

REGISTRATION OF SHIPS

Introduction

The process of registration involves the observance of the requirements and formalities prescribed under the  The Merchant Shipping Act - 2003 which sets , among other requirements, the qualifications for owning, registering and licensing of Tanzania Ships.

Certificate of Registry

b) Should the vessel be lost, sold to foreigners, or broken up, notice thereof together with the Certificate of Registry , if in existence, should immediately be given to the Registrar of Tanzania Ships at SUMATRA offices or any port of Registry.

Qualifications for owning and registering a Tanzanian ship

A Ship shall be a Tanzania Ship under the MSA 2003 if such Ship is registered in Tanzania . A ship shall be registered in Tanzania subject to other provisions if she is wholly owned by persons qualified to own a Tanzania Ship namely:

• Nationals of Tanzania
• Individuals or corporations owning ships hired out on bareboat charters to nationals of Tanzania.
• Individuals or corporations in bona fide joint venture shipping enterprise relationship with nationals of Tanzania as may be prescribed;
• Such other persons as the Minister may by order , specify.
• Every ship of 50GT or over that is owned by persons qualified to be owners of Tanzania ship shall unless exempted be registered as a Tanzania Ship.

Requirements for registration

On registering a ship, the Registrar of Ships shall retain in his possession a copy of any builders certificate or a Bill of Sale or other evidence of title produced on first registration, any certificate of measurement or survey, and all declarations of eligibility. Any documents produced to the Registrar of Ships to establish title shall be returned to the applicant once the ship has been registered.

a) Vessel's Name

In naming a ship, the owner may propose a name(s) for his/her ship and submit it to the Registrar of Ships for approval. In any case, two or more ships shall not bear the same name in the Register book.

b) Port of Registry

An applicant for ship registration is required to nominate a port of registry i.e. homeport for her/his vessel. The port at which a ship is registered shall be deemed to be the port of registry and the port to which the ship belongs.

c) Vessel's Certificate of Survey

A survey report is required in order to ascertain the seaworthy of a vessel. Marine surveyors appointed pursuant to the Merchant Shipping Act No. 3 of 2003 are required to carry out surveys to all Tanzanian ships. The surveys shall be conducted on:

• The hull and machinery
• The equipment of ships, including her tackle and appurtenances;
• The life saving, fire fighting and other safety equipments of ships;
• The radiotelephony and radiotelegraphy installations of ships; and
• The stowage and manner of loading of ships? cargoes and the stowage of dangerous cargoes.

Changes to be reported

a) Change of vessels' name.

Any change to a vessel's name shall get an approval from the Registrar of Ships. Hence, no person shall change the name of the ship without permission from the Registrar of Ships.

b) Change of Description/Alterations

An application has to be made to the Registrar of Ships for any alterations which may lead to the alteration being registered or the ship to be registered anew.

c) Changes in Ownership

In order to register the transfer of ownership, the following documents must be attached with an application for change of ownership:

a) Bill of Sale
b) Declaration ownership 
c) Appointment of an authorized representative in case of a company.

Transfer of a ship to unqualified persons.

A Ship Register will be closed if a vessel or any share in a vessel is transferred to unqualified person, or unqualified person obtains any joint interest in ownership.

The owner of a ship must handover a copy of the Bill of Sale to the Registrar of Ships along with notice that includes a statement of foreigner?s nationality and the Certificate of Registry must be delivered to the Registrar of Ships.

Registration fees & charges

Various levies are being charged by SUMATRA at different levels for services rendered to the industry as stipulated in the Merchant Shipping Act No. 3 of 2003 and subsequent Regulations.