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Apply for a tonnage certificate

Service Description

The BSH issues internationally recognized tonnage certificates for recreational craft. These are a prerequisite for entry in a shipping register.

The issue of tonnage certificates depends on the length of your vessel.

  • For pleasure craft under 24 meters in length (in accordance with Article 2 paragraph 8 of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships), a simplified measurement is carried out; it is limited to determining the length. The issued tonnage certificate is generally sufficient for the registration of the recreational craft in a shipping register.
    • On request, these smaller pleasure craft can also be measured in accordance with the international rules for vessels over 24 meters in length. You will then receive the international tonnage certificate.
  • For vessels over 24 meters in length, an exact measurement is carried out on board in accordance with the rules of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships. These ships then receive an international tonnage certificate.

Process flow

You can apply for a tonnage certificate from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH):

  • On the BSH website, you have the option of filling out the application as a PDF file on the computer and printing it out or downloading and printing it first to fill it out by hand.
  • Send the completed application form together with the required documents and evidence by post or
  • scan the documents and send them to the BSH by email.
  • E-mail address: spotbootvermessung@bsh.de

Explanations of the application and information about the tonnage certificate can also be found on the BSH website.

Requirements

  • You own a pleasure craft with a hull length of less than 15 meters and would like to voluntarily register in a shipping register.
  • You own a recreational craft with a hull length of more than 15 meters and must therefore comply with the obligation to register in a shipping register.

Which documents are required?

  • Drawing or sketch of the pleasure craft; e.g. general plan of the shipyard (copy)
  • Brochure of the pleasure craft (copy), also in extracts
  • One photo each of the side and stern view of the recreational craft
  • If applicable, a copy of the declaration of conformity
  • If applicable, a copy of the manufacturer's certificate

What are the fees?

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) charges fees for surveying ships.

  • The fee for the survey of recreational craft according to the simplified procedure is divided into two items:
  • The measurement according to the simplified procedure for recreational craft (length measurement only: EUR 117.00
  • The issue of a tonnage certificate for the measurement according to the simplified procedure for recreational craft: EUR 133.00.
  • The fee for the measurement according to the rules of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships refers to the result of this measurement and can therefore only be roughly stated in advance (basic fee EUR 1,000.00 + EUR 0.7 per GT + issue of a tonnage certificate EUR 175.00).
  • Applicants who are resident abroad must pay the fee in advance. In these cases, the application can only be processed by the BSH after receipt of the fee for the recreational craft survey.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

You do not have to meet any deadlines.

Processing duration

Provided that the documents are complete and no further inquiries are necessary on the part of the BSH, it usually takes 1 week to process your application.

Legal basis

Applications / forms

  • Appeal against rejection notice
  • Administrative court action

Appeal

- Forms: yes

- Online procedure possible: no

- Written form required: yes

- Personal appearance required: no

What else should I know?

As an applicant resident or domiciled outside Germany, you must have permanently appointed one or more responsible persons resident or domiciled in the Federal Republic of Germany to ensure that the legal provisions applicable to seagoing vessels in the Federal Republic of Germany are complied with in technical, social and administrative matters. On request, the BSH will provide more detailed information on the further evidence to be provided in these cases in accordance with the Flag Law Ordinance.

Further Information

Author

Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Technically approved by

Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

Professionally released on

19.07.2021

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

Start your request directly online:

Competent Authority

Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)

Address
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78
20359 Hamburg, Freie und Hansestadt
Telephone
+49 40 3190-0
Fax
+49 40 3190-5000
E-Mail
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E-Mail
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Further Authorities

Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie Sachgebiet S21
Postal address
Post office box 30 12 20
20305 Hamburg, Freie und Hansestadt
Telephone
+49 40 3190-7290
E-Mail
Contact us