Yesterday, Capt. Marc Nuytemans, MD at the Belgian Shipowners' Association, gave a passionate presentation about the history and evolution of ship registration in Belgium. We therefor decided to refresh your collective memories by repeating some important facts about the Ship Registration Procedure in Belgium. Advantages

• The Belgian authorities gain control over shipping safety and working conditions on board.
• A number of measures taken by the Belgian authorities in the framework of the EU State Aid Guidelines have turned the Register is a competitive one vis-à-vis other registers. a) Tax measures in support of business. The programme laws of 2 August 2002 and 27 December 2004 provide for a series of tax measures in support of companies running maritime operations. Among the provisions features the lump sum profit setting (i.e. the so-called tonnage tax system) already in force in several EU States. Ship owners who do not wish to take advantage of this system will be offered a relatively attractive alternative tax regime. The text of the programme laws (consolidated) and the explanatory statements are downloadable HERE. b) The social security of seafaring EU residents will come under Belgian law. However ship owners shall be exempted from the employer's part of social security charges as well as from part of the employee's social security charges. If special conditions are met social security charges of non-EU residents may be paid in the country of origin. c) For the seafarers employed on board of EU-registered ships, ship owners shall be exempted from the payment of the withholding tax on professional income levied on seafarer wages, on the condition that the seafarers concerned are Belgian tax-payers.
• It is expected that flying the Belgian flag will encourage youngsters to choose a career in the Merchant Marine.

Procedure To have a ship registered in Belgium's ownership register or bareboat register, please contact: Mr. GUIDO DE LATTE Scheepshypotheekbewaarder Frankrijklei 71/73 2000 ANTWERP Belgium Registering with Belgium's Maritime Registry implies flying the Belgian flag. It is important to know that the program law of 2 August 2002 provides for a significant reduction in registration fees. Conditions for registering To be admitted to registration, all ships to be registered in Belgium shall have to be inspected beforehand by the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate Seagoing vessels are registered A. Upon submission of the following documents to the Register :

• 1. Registration statement in 3 copies – each one of which shall bear a 5,00 € tax stamp. Registration forms are available at the Registry, via e-mail guido.delatte@minfin.fed.be or downloadable here;
• 2. Original tonnage certificate & 2nd copy (for the granting of the tonnage certificate) & 3rd copy (for the archives of the Maritime Mortgage Registry)
• 3. A document showing a clean title of ownership (building contract, purchasing document, assets brought into business, etc.): - either: 2 stamped copies of the deed executed before a notary public; - or: 2 originals of the deed of sale by private agreement, each bearing a tax stamp of 5,00 € and previously registered at the Registry
• 4. Original foreign certificate: - either: a non-registration certificate - or: a deletion & non-encumbrance certificate
• 5. The articles of association of the company or companies owning the seagoing vessel: - either (if the company/companies involved are not known at the Registry): full articles of association and any modifications thereto as published in the appendixes of Belgium ’s official journal; - or (if the company/companies involved are known at the Registry): any missing modifications of the articles of association as evidenced by the appendixes to Belgium ’s official journal
• 6. A written statement issued by a Belgian notary public that the obligations of articles 15 to 18 of the Royal Decree of 4 April 1996 have been met (the forms for such statements are available at the Registry)
• 7. If applicable: the original deed setting out the powers of attorney granted to the empowered Directors of the ship-owner for the purposes of signing the registration statement and other documents as well as fulfilling all formalities required at the Maritime Mortgage Registry.
• 8. Sworn translations of all documents drawn up in languages other than F/D/NL (with the exception of standardised English-language documents, including charter party, bill of sale, power of attorney, memorandum of agreement etc.)

B. After prior payment of any costs due, i.e. stamp duty and mortgage charges. source: Belgian Shipowners' Association: The Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association proactively looks after the shared interests of all shipowners established in Belgium and ship managers operating in international maritime transport. It plays a dynamic role in promoting the sector as an attractive employer and provides its members with operational support and interpretations of fiscal, social and maritime legislation. To this end, the RBSA works closely together with all of the national and international parties involved. Related

• Belgian ship mortgage registry