Kenya - Register a Kenyan Vessel

ProcedureEdit

Apply In Person

All vessels must be registered with all the necessary details. No vessel will be allowed to sail in Kenya waters without proper registration made to the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). KMA Office Location & Contact details
The owner(s) of the vessel or an authorized agent is required to collect and complete the following forms; Application for Registration of Kenyan Ship Form-28A, Appointment of Authorized Representative Form-28B, and Notice of Name Proposed for a Kenya Ship Form-46, obtainable at any of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) offices or download it via the KMA website KMA Vessel Registration Form or directly download the forms using these Application for Registration of Kenyan Ship Form-28A and Appointment of Authorized Representative Form-28B and Notice of Name Proposed for a Kenya Ship Form-46
The following should be noted when completing the following forms:
- The Appointment of Authorized Representative Form-28B should only be completed where;
  - This form must be completed by all the owners. If more than five (5) owners, additional forms must be completed.
  - If the owners and Authorized representative/agent is a corporation, the appointment should be confirmed by affixing the common seal or by deed, or instrument under seal in accordance with Company Act
- The Notice of Name Proposed for a Kenya Ship Form-46, should only be completed where;
  - The regulations respecting ships’ names are given overleaf.
  - The Mercantile Navy List and Maritime Directory contain the official list of registered ships and can be consulted at the office of any Registrar of Kenya Ships.
  - This form is not to be used for an application to change the name of a ship already on the Register.
Upon obtaining the application forms, the applicant should legibly complete the relevant forms, attach all the supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page and submit the complete application file to the KMA licensing & registration office for consideration. Any omission of the required documents or information will render the application process incomplete.
Upon submission of the application, the registering officer will check for discrepancies or ineligibility in the application documents. If a discrepancy that cannot be immediately corrected exists in any of the documents, the application and all the submitted documents will be returned to the applicant and should not be re-submitted until the discrepancy has been rectified corrected.
If the officer is satisfied that all the requirements have been met for the application, the applicant is advised to pay a prescribed fee for the boat registration as explained under the KMA Fees schedule, please refer to the “Fees” section of this page for more information.
The KMA office may request additional information relevant to the application. In such a case, the information must be submitted within the stipulated time from the date of notification. Where the applicant fails to submit the required information, the application shall be rejected.
After successfully processing of the application, the registering officer shall thereupon assign the boat a set of reference marks consisting of either two or three parts as explained below-
- It should be noted the first part shall be the letter or letters for the zone; the second part of the reference marks shall be a number consisting of three figures and the third part of the set of reference marks shall only be assigned to those special categories of owners or users.
After assigning a set of reference marks to a boat, the registering officer shall enter in the register of boat registrations such particulars pertaining to the boat and shall complete a certificate of registration which shall be given to the owner.
Upon request by the applicant, the KMA will inspect and spray the vessel at an additional fee of US$ 50.00.

NOTE:

Reference marks

Within seven days of the issuing of a certificate of registration, the owner of the boat shall cause two sets of reference marks assigned to the boat to be painted or otherwise permanently affixed, one on each side of the prow, or foremost part of the boat as close to the top of the hull and front of the boat as possible.
The reference marks shall be colored black, shall be arranged horizontally on a white background, and shall conform to the specifications.

Required DocumentsEdit

Duly completed: Application for Registration of Kenyan Ship Form-28A and Appointment of Authorized Representative Form-28B and Notice of Name Proposed for a Kenya Ship Form-46
Copy of Title documents (first registration)
Copy of Identification documents (Passport/National ID)
Copy of Certificate of incorporation (if the owner is a body corporate)
Copy of Builder certificate
Copy of Kenyan Provisional Certificate of Registry (if appropriate)
Bill of sale
Ship Current Synopsis Record(if appropriate)

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Kenya Fisheries Service - Head Office
NHIF Building, Ragati Rd
KeFS Direct Line
P.O Box 48511-00100
Nairobi
Tel: +254202020191
Email 1: [email protected]
Email 2:[email protected]
Website: Link

EligibilityEdit

Registration of a ship in the Kenyan registry is eligible to the following ship owners:

Nationals of Kenya.
Corporations registered in Kenya.
Foreign ship owning entity hiring out on bareboat charter to Kenyan nationals and
Individual or corporation in joint venture enterprise relationship with Kenyan nationals.
Corporation owning ship hired out on bareboat charter to nationals of Kenya.
Individual in bona fide joint venture with nationals of Kenya.
Corporation in bona fide joint venture with nationals of Kenya

FeesEdit

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) Fees schedule

ValidityEdit

The validity of the boat registration certificate is indefinite; however the registered boat will be de-registered, in case of change of ownership, if the boat is broken up, destroyed, irretrievably lost, or becomes permanently useless as a boat or is exported from Kenya.

Documents to UseEdit

Application for Registration of Kenyan Ship Form-28A
Appointment of Authorized Representative Form-28B
Notice of Name Proposed for a Kenya Ship Form-46

Sample DocumentsEdit

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Processing TimeEdit

Please explain the processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

InstructionsEdit

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required InformationEdit

Full name of the applicant
Contact details {telephone/cell no/email address}
Type of boat {Yacht/Dinghy/Rowing/Sailing/House/Canoe/Kayak/Raft/Barge/Inflatable/Sailboard/ Catamaran/Punt/Amphibious/Air/Pontoon/Ferry/Other (specify)
Dimension of the boat {length/ width /height}
The shape of hull: Conventional, double (Catamaran), other: (specify)
Materials from which hull constructed: Steel/ Fiberglass/ Aluminum/ Wooden/ Other (specify)
Colour of hull exterior (if painted, state colour of various coats. If more than one colour topcoat, specify)
Country of origin: Manufacturer’s name and address (if home-built, state maker’s name, and address)
Date of Manufacture
Commercial description: Model, code, or type
If the boat has already been registered, state reason for re-registration: because of change in ownership /of transfer from another zone. If because of change owner, state previous name/address.
Declaration by the applicant.

Need for the DocumentEdit

All vessels imported and used in Kenya must be registered with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). No vessel will be allowed to sail in Kenya waters without proper registration.
Vessel registration is the initial process required for a ship to gain a Kenya identity i.e. flying a Kenya flag.

Information which might helpEdit

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External LinksEdit

Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA)-Vessel Registration

OthersEdit

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