The Republic of Benin offers a globally recognized and administratively efficient ship registry that supports a wide spectrum of maritime operations. Vessels are flying the Benin flag benefit from streamlined registration procedures, international compliance, and a pragmatic documentation process overseen by the national maritime authority in cooperation with Recognized Organizations (R.O.s).
The Benin Ship Registry accommodates various registration types to suit different operational scenarios:
-Regular
Registration, including Provisional and Permanent stages, designed for
vessels seeking full-term registration under the Benin flag.
-Special Registration, valid for up to three months, intended primarily for delivery voyages or vessels bound for scrapping.
-Bareboat (IN) Registration, enabling vessels under charter to temporarily operate under the Benin flag.
-Mortgage Registration, offering legal protection for financial institutions with maritime interests.
All registration categories are governed by clear documentation requirements, including apostilled ownership proofs, valid statutory and class certificates, RAAC confirmation, and a notarized undertaking letter affirming the vessel will not call at sanctioned regions (North Korea, Northern Cyprus, Crimea).
With its commitment to international maritime conventions and flexible administrative structure, Benin presents a reliable and accessible flagging option for shipowners, operators, and financiers worldwide.
Provisional registration (Regular)
1. Signed and stamped application forms
2. Copy of passport for applicants
3. Copy existing certificates – flag – class certificates
4. Copy of Bill of Sale – apostilled
5. Copy of passport for DPA
6. Copy owner company documents
7. Copy of passport for owner(s), shareholder(s)
8. RAAC confirmation letter
9. Copy of the Notarized undertaking letter by owners (not to call North Korea; Northern Cyprus; Crimea)
Permanent registration (Regular)
1. Original Bill of Sale – apostilled
2. Original Deletion with apostille
3. Copy of closed CSR
4. Original application form
5. Copy of LRIT certificate
6. Copy of Actual crew list
7. Copy of Valid Class & Statutory/ISM/ISPS certificates issued by R.O. under Benin flag
8. Original of the Notarized undertaking letter by owners (not to call North Korea; Northern Cyprus; Crimea)
Special Registration
For
Delivery Voyage and Scrap Registration Find here below the needed
application documents for the Special registration of a vessel under
Benin Flag:
1. Signed and stamped application forms
2. Copy of passport for applicants
3. Copy existing certificates – flag – class certificates
4. Copy of Bill of Sale – apostilled
5. Copy of passport for DPA (for the vessel sailing by her own propulsion)
6. Copy owner company documents
7. Copy of passport for owner(s), shareholder(s)
8. RAAC confirmation letter (for the vessel sailing by her own propulsion)
9.
Copy of the Notarized undertaking letter by owners (not to call North
Korea; Northern Cyprus; Crimea) – (for the vessel sailing by her own
propulsion)
Bareboat Registration
1. Signed and stamped application forms
2. Certificate of Good Standing of the Bareboat Charterers
3. Copy of the Bareboat Charter Party (NOTARIZED)
4. Written consent from the foreign registry for the vessel to fly the flag of Benin mentioning the Bareboat Charter period
5. Written consent from the mortgagees (if applicable)
6. RAAC confirmation letter
7. Applicant’s passport copy
8. Copy existing certificates – flag – class certificates
9. Copy of the Notarized undertaking letter by owners (not to call North Korea; Northern Cyprus; Crimea)
Mortgage Registration
To
be in position to proceed with the Provisional Mortgage Registration of
a vessel flying Benin we need the following application documents to be
submitted to us firstly:
1. Copy of Mortgage Registration Deed (mortgage registration application form) signed by owners and bank only firstly.
2. Copy of Mortgage Contract including loan agreement between mortgagor and mortgagee, signed by owners and bank only firstly.
3.
copy of Undertaking Letter from Owners that all requested Original
Notarized documents must be submitted to us as below, within a period
not exceeding 45 days
Also, For Permanent Mortgage Registration, we need:
4. ORIGINAL Notarized Mortgage Registration Deed (mortgage registration application form) (3) sets
(In mortgage registration deed, mortgager’s full name/signature/position/ seal should be exactly indicated)
5.
ORIGINAL Notarized Mortgage Contract (including notarized loan
agreement) * between mortgagor and mortgagee: (3) sets should be
notarized from both sides of mortgagor and mortgagee.
In
signature part & notarization part, PIC’s Name, Position &
Company name (of both mortgager & mortgagee) in full should be
exactly indicated