Vessel Registration

Dawson & Associates has extensive experience in vessel sale and purchase, and vessel registration. We have worked with several international ships registers including Singapore, Cook Islands, Panama, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Hong Kong, Russia, Bahamas, Cayman Islands and others. We have well established relationships with maritime lawyers around the globe, and work closely with vessel surveyors and class societies. Peter Dawson has been involved in the registration and flagging of all types of vessels for 20 years, both in South Africa and since immigrating to New Zealand. He participated in the development of the Cook Islands Ship's Register and drafting the Cook Islands Admiralty Jurisdiction Act.

We advise on the following aspects of vessel registrations:

• Vessel sale and purchase
• Ownership and chartering structures
• Importing and exporting vessels
• Flagging in and flagging out
• Open registries
• Vessel financing and securities
• Ship mortgages
• Companies, partnerships, LLCs and joint ventures
• Customs
• Vessel registration documentation
• Classification society requirements
• Safe ship management requirements

Our clients include sellers, purchasers, brokers, vessel financiers, bareboat charterers and registries.

We have close links with the Cook Islands flag and provide advice on owning and chartering structures in New Zealand and elsewhere. The Cook Islands is a fast growing international registry that prides itself on an efficient registration service for owners and bareboat charters. In addition to their normal registration services, they offer specialised services to fishing vessel and superyacht owners.

Click here for more details on the requirements and costs of registration for vessels on the Cook Islands flag.

Contact Us

Contact Peter Dawson about vessel registration:

p +64 3 544 1967
e peter@dawsonlaw.co.nz 

Our business hours are 8.30am to 5pm (New Zealand time). Outside of business hours please contact Peter Dawson on +64 27 229 9624.