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Tonnage Survey 

 

At your service once again! 

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If you require a Tonnage Survey I am fully IIMS trained and approved by the MCA to carry out tonnage measurements for vessels under 24 m. 

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I will complete the necessary 'Application For Tonnage Measurement' and 'Certificate of Tonnage' forms required and carry out the tonnage survey measurements.

 

On completion of the Tonnage Measurement being carried out, all relevant paperwork will be submitted to the IIMS for approval. On approval from the IIMS a Tonnage Certificate directly lodged with the UK Ship Registry in Cardiff which will enable you to complete your part 1  British Registration online. 

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Many finance companies require a tonnage survey in addition to the pre-purchase survey.

Registration on Part 1 of the UK Ship Register entitles you to the following benefits: 

  • Evidence you own the boat. Shows your boat's nationality.

  • Use the boat as security for a marine mortgage.

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Registering a vessel under Part 1 British Registration with the UK Ship Registry

Tonnage Surveys are required if a boat is to be registered under Part 1 of the British Registry of Shipping.

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The owner of the boat must be British. They must sign a Declaration of Eligibility and submit an application form along with proof of ownership.

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Part I British Registration. The reasons for registering your boat are:

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  • Prove you own the vessel

  • Prove your vessel's nationality

  • Use the vessel as security for a marine mortgage

  • Register a pleasure vessel

  • Get ‘transcripts of registry’, which show the vessel's previous owners and whether there are any outstanding mortgages

 

To be registered your boat must have a unique name.

The calculated tonnage figure bears no relation to the vessels’ actual weight but is a volume calculation based on the length times breadth times depth.

The vessel may be in or out of the water whilst the Tonnage Survey is being carried out.

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The IIMS is approved by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to undertake Tonnage Surveys on vessels of up to 24 meters in length for British Registration.

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In addition to British Registration, IIMS is also approved to undertake Tonnage Surveys by several other Red Ensign Flag States as follows:

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  • Jersey – Vessels less than 24 meters in length

  • Guernsey – Vessels less than 24 meters in length

  • Isle of Man – Vessels less than 24 meters LOA

  • BVI – Vessels less than 24 meters load line length

  • Cayman Islands – Vessels less than 24 meters load line length

  • Gibraltar – Vessels less than 24 meters in length

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PART 1 REGISTRATION PROCEDURE:

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  • Owners responsibilities

    Application to register a British ship (Form MSF4 740).

  • To apply to the MCA/Registry of Seamen and Shipping in Cardiff for the following documentation:

  • Declaration of Eligibility (Form MSF 4727 9/02).

  • He /she should also check the availability of the chosen name of the vessel.

  • Appoint a qualified surveyor to carry out the tonnage measurement.

  • On receipt and completion of the two forms (MSF4740 & 4727), the owner should return these to the RSS along with the applicable fee. Proof of ownership will also be required. This will be the as bill of sale (two concurrent bills if the vessel has had two or more previous owners) or the sales invoice and builders certificate if the vessel is new.

  • He/she should also pay the surveyor on instruction. Note that this payment forms two parts, the surveyors’ fee and the IIMS administration fee.

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       https://www.ukshipregister.co.uk/registration/new-application

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  • Surveyors responsibilities

  • To attend the vessel and complete the Tonnage Measurement form.

  • To submit the tonnage form to the IIMS, along with the applicable fee (If not paid direct to the IIMS by the client).

  • To advise the client that the survey and paperwork has been completed.

  • IIMS responsibilities.

  • To check tonnage certificate, take copy and to forward the original to the RSS ASAP.

 

Paperwork Chase 

The RSS can have a backlog of several weeks, so it is worth noting that the certificate will not arrive over-night.

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Conclusion 

Providing the surveyor has posted the tonnage certificate to the IIMS and the IIMS have sent the certificate to the RSS, the surveyor falls out of the loop. The responsibility lies with the owner to monitor and /or chase the paperwork process by speaking to the RSS (Or flag state office) direct.

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