Cefai & Associates have developed a ship registration practice which is one of the leaders in this field locally.Our services in this area include:

• flag and ship registration under Maltese flag and overseas and dealings with formalities related thereto;
• bareboat charter registrations;
• ship owning and ship management company incorporation;
• marine mortgages and other form of securities;
• discharging of mortgages;
• ship sales and purchases;
• ship finance;
• chartering and leasing;

The administration of the Malta Flag by the Malta Maritime Authority is driven by safety considerations and compliance with international obligations. We are able to handle all technical and administrative aspects of the ship registration process and provide round the clock service to our clients.

Advantages include:

1.  ships may be registered in the name of legally constituted corporate bodies or entities irrespective of nationality, or by European Union citiziens.
2. low company formation, ship registration and tonnage tax costs;
3. progressive reduction in registration and tonnage tax costs for younger ships;
4. attractive incentives to owners, registered charterers and financiers of Maltese ships of over 1,000 net tonnage; these incentives may also be extended to smaller ships;
5. no restrictions on the nationality of the master, officers and crew
6. no restrictions on the sale or transfer of shares of a company owning Maltese ships;
7. no restrictions on the sale and mortgaging of Maltese ships;
8. no trading restrictions;
9. preferential treatment to Maltese ships in certain ports;
10. twenty four hour, seven days a week service in respect of urgent matters;
11. Malta is an international maritime centre providing the whole range of maritime services.