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OFFICIAL GUIDE TO SHIP & YACHT REGISTRIES

Honduras

Shipowner Eligibility 

There are no requirements concerning local ownership or participation in ownership, nationality or place of incorporation.

About the Flag

Honduras is a Central American nation bordering Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and has a coastline on the Caribbean Sea and an outlet to the Pacific Ocean through the Gulf of Fonseca. It is a republic with its capital at Tegucigalpa. The President is the Chief of State and Head of Government, and there is a unicameral legislature. Spanish and Indian dialects are spoken. It is a member of the OAS, the UN, and the IMO.

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy but manufacturing is in its early stages. Exports are bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, and minerals, and the main trading partners are the United States and Germany. The unit of currency is the lempira.

On November 4, 1994 the Honorable National Congress approved the new Organic Law of the Merchant Marine which entered into force on January 1, 1995. The new law updates the registration procedures and is designed to attract larger vessels.

Company Formation

To form a corporation in Honduras, an owner must nominate a local law firm and grant full power of attorney to a Honduran lawyer who will act as a resident agent. Corporations must have a minimum of two shareholders and three directors although shareholders may act as directors. Shareholder identities are kept confidential. Corporations may be formed in four to six working days.

The most commonly established companies are the Anonymous Society (S.A.) and the Limited Liability Society (S de R.L.). For an S.A., a minimum of two officers are required, generally the President and Secretary. A General Manager or others may also be named as officer.

For a S de R.L., a minimum of one officer is needed, usually the General Manager. Directors are not necessary but may be nominated if desired. There are no nationality or domicile requirements for shareholders, directors, or officers of shipping companies with vessels operating in international waters. Shares may be nominative or bearer and either common or preferred. Shares may be held by individuals or corporations or a mixture of the two. Share capital need not be reported.

The Supreme Court of Honduras has ruled that all matters regarding incorporation must be handled in person at the local Registries of Property and Mercantile, and therefore has forbidden the use of telephones or faxes by those authorities.

General Requirements for Registration of Societies Engaged in Maritime Activities
1. Application Form
2. Deed of Partnership duly registered or individual trader.
3. Customs Agent License / Shipping Agent License
4. Operating Permit from the Municipality of residence.
5. Power of Attorney duly authenticated
6. Name of the vessels of ownership and Liability Insurance Policy for Third Party

Taxation

Tax Registration
International Navigation US$100
National Navigation Lps. 500
Annual Tonnage Tax
The vessels engaged in International Navigation engaged in commercial fishing or high sea will pay the following:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
5 200 $150
201 500 $250
501 1000 $400
1001 2000 $500
2001 5000 $750
5001 10,000 $1,500
10001 And Over $0.10/GT

Registration and Documentation

For first time registration, the following documents are required:
• Completed Application Form found in the Section of Receivership of Documents and Customer Services, from the headquarters in Tegucigalpa. (All must be duly authenticated photocopies.)
• Legible photocopy of the Power of Attorney
• Accreditation of Documents showing how he acquired the vessel (Invoice, Bill of Sale, Purchase Agreement, Transfer, foreclosures, etc.)
• Accredit the Technical Certificates: Seaworthiness Certificate (may be photocopied)
• Tonnage. (Only applicable to larger vessels of 78 feet or 24 meters in Length According to the Convention ITC 69). In case of smaller vessels, the Recognized Organization (RO) chosen by the Owner shall issue a Certificate "Non Convention" or its default, the GDMM may issue a certificate of "Simplified Calculation of tonnage", but solely on these cases.

Vessels engaged in international fishing must also submit the following:
• When applying for the Provisional Registry, proof that it is on the Regional list of Fisheries Entity (ICCAT and IATTC)
• Comply with Resolution 024/2003 of the GDMM
• Comply with the agreement 002/2007 of the GDMM.

Vessels over 20 years of age
• The vessels that are rebuilt shall submit:
• Technical Drawings of the vessel pointing in the best way possible the changes in the vessel during the reconstruction process duly legalized.
• Letter duly authenticated of the shipyard, in English or Spanish, exact address, phone, fax or email of the shipyard and full name and title of the person signing the same. The letter should detail the period of reconstruction that was carried out, structural changes made, and an estimated useful life of the vessel if it is kept in optimal conditions.
• If it is an Honduran shipyard, it must be registered with the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine (According to Resolution 001/2004)

Note: When applying for registration, it must submit documentation supporting the reconstruction. This documentation will be reviewed by the Maritime Safety Department where it will be approve base on documentation submitted (Resolutions 003/2005 and 001/2003).

Provisional Registry Extension
To apply for the extension of the Provisional Registry, the legal representative must submit an application to the Section of Receivership of Documents and Customer Service, before the expiry of the earlier registry and of the certified copies of the Insurance Policy Liability for Damage to Third Parties. These should be replaced by the original issued by the insurance company, so it can undergo the final registration. Only one provisional registry extension can be given per vessel.

Permanent Registry Requirements
• Public Deed duly authenticated, or a duly authenticated proxy.
• Original or certified copy of title deed, lease or legal act by which owns the ship.
• Tonnage certificate issued by a recognized classification society duly endorsed.
• Official certificate, duly authenticated, of the cancellation of the previous registry.
• Synopsis Record of the vessel (see Maritime Safety Department).
• A Class certificate confirmation or a Seaworthiness Certificate, if over 20 years or if it was rebuilt and international, duly endorsed.
• Proofs of fishing gear used.
• Certification, Original Registry or original copy of the policy of Liability Insurance for damages to third parties.
• Operating area (latitude-north / south and longitude-east / west).
• Title Deed of Registration of Ships

Registration Ship Property
To register in the Registration Ship Property, the legal representative shall submit an application, to the Section of Receivership of Documents and customer service, accompanied by the testimony of the public deed and two (2) photocopies of it. This procedure is a prerequisite to obtaining the Navigation Patent. In the testimony, it must detail the specifications of the ship as they appear in the definitive patent, the registration number and the immediate past history.

Bareboat Charter Registration

Bareboat charter registration into and out of the Honduran flag is permitted. In the event that a vessel is bareboat chartered into the Registry, the provisional patent will be valid for two years, with an option for an additional two year extension. In order to bareboat charter register a vessel into the Registry, the following original documents must be submitted to the General Director:
• Bareboat charter contract with a maximum of two years, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul
• Consent from the vessel’s primary registry and evidence of cancellation or suspension, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul
• Consent from the owner, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul
• Bill of Sale, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul, to prove ownership
• International Tonnage Certificate
• Seaworthiness Certificate if the vessel is over 15 years old

In order for a Honduran vessel to be bareboat charter registered out of the flag into a foreign registry, the following original documents must be submitted to the General Director:
• Bareboat charter contract with a maximum of two years, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul
• Bill of Sale, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul, to prove ownership
• Power of Attorney, duly authenticated by a Honduran Consul
• International Tonnage Certificate
• Seaworthiness Certificate if the vessel is over 15 years old

Vessel and Yacht Eligibility & Survey Requirements

Ships under 25 years of age are eligible for registration; vessels over 25 years of age will be accepted if a valid Class Certificate, Safety Construction Certificate or Certificate of Seaworthiness is issued by one of the following authorized classification societies:
• American Bureau of Shipping
• Bureau Veritas
• Compañia Nacional de Registro e Inspeccion de Naves
• C.T.M Inspection and Classification
• Det Norske Veritas
• Germanischer Lloyd
• Honduras Bureau of Shipping
• Honduras International Naval Surveying and Inspection Bureau
• Honduras Maritime Inspection
• Inspeccion y Clasificacion Maritima
• Korean Register of Shipping
• Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
• Montserrat Shipping
• Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
• Registro Italiano Navale
• RJ Del Pan (Japan) K.K.

Each vessel must have an initial or renewal survey for the issuance of a full term certificate which must be issued by any of the authorized classification societies and also be endorsed by the Directorate of the Merchant Marine. In order to maintain the validity of a full term certificate, such certificate must be endorsed each year by one of the authorized classification societies. Interim certificates can be issued by an authorized classification society after an inspection on board without the previous authorization of the General Director of the Merchant Marine provided that copies of the reports and the interim certificates issued are provided to the General Director within 15 days of issuance. The only purpose for taking such action is to expedite the issuance of the Provisional Patent.
Each year, all Honduran vessels are required to pass an annual inspection by a flag inspector of the General Director although so far the General Director has not nominated any flag inspectors. However, the inspection fees must be paid with the annual taxes.

Crewing

There are no requirements under Honduran maritime law regarding minimum manning scales or nationality of officers or crews on Honduran vessels.

Mortgages

To qualify for entry to the Provisional Registration, the legal representative shall submit, to the Section of Receivership of Documents and Customer Services, the application of provisional registration of Mortgage accompanying the document describing the charge.

Fees

Enrollment fees
The vessels engaged in international navigation or coastal fishing activities and high sea fishing have the following rates:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
5 500 $250
501 1000 $400
1001 2000 $500
2001 5000 $750
5001 10000 $1,500
10001 And Over $3,000

NOTE: If a person registers a number of vessels on the same date, the tonnage will join them and to the resulting total rate will apply as appropriate, so that all vessels are taken as one.

Vessels over 20 tons, engaged in coastal fishing or sailing in Honduran waters pays Lps.2, 000.00
The vessels with up to 20 tons, but more than one dedicated to coastal fishing and that sails in Honduran waters, pays Lps.1,000.00
Vessels of less than 200 GT for pleasure activity, will pay seven hundred US dollars (US$ 700.00) for registration and tonnage and five hundred twenty-five US dollars (US$ 525.00) for annual tax
Pleasure vessel of more than 200 GT operating in international waters for profit, will pay two thousand dollars (US$ 2,000.00)
Pleasure vessel of more than 200 GT operating in international waters nonprofit, will pay one thousand dollars (US$ 1,000.00)
Pleasure vessel of more than 1 GT navigating in Honduran waters, will pay two thousand lempiras Lps. 2000.00
Vessels up to 20 tons but more than one dedicated to cabotage, or fishing and sailing in Honduran waters, will pay one thousand lempiras (Lps. 1000.00).
Vessels over 20 tons engaged in cabotage or fishing in Honduran waters, will pay one thousand lempiras (Lps. 1000.00).
Vessels under 20 tons, but more than one dedicated to cabotage and fishing in Honduran waters, will pay seven hundreds lempiras (Lps. 700.00).
The vessels over two gross tons applying for a provisional registry for a single trip or for ninety (90) days, pay the following fees:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
2000 5000 $.50 x GT
5001 10,000 $.30 x GT
10,001 20,000 $.20 x GT
20,001 And Over $.10 x GT
The fee for changes to the registry shall be four hundred dollars ($400.00)
The fee for extension of records in English shall be two hundred Lempiras (Lps. 200.00)
The fee for extension of records in Spanish will be one hundred fifty Lempiras (Lps. 150.00)
The replacement fee for lost or damaged of Registry shall be eighty dollars (US$ 80.00)
The fee for provisional registry extension for three months shall be three hundred Lempiras (Lps. 300.00)
The fee for provisional registry extension for six months shall be five hundred lempiras (Lps. 500.00)
The registration of companies and shipping companies will be paid according to the activity that it is engaged and where they operate.
Registration and titles deeds shall be paid according to the tonnage of the ship as follows:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
1 1000 $150
1001 10,000 $300
10,001 And Over $600
The registration of title to a ship navigating in international waters will be one hundred dollars ($ 100.00)
The registration of title to a ship navigating in Honduran waters will pay five hundred Lempiras (Lps. 500.00)
The provisional registration of any lien on a vessel will pay one hundred dollars (U.S. $ 100.00)
The safety lamination of the registry pays fifty lempiras (Lps. 50.00) per document
The cancellation of a registration or certification pay five hundred dollars (U.S. $ 500.00)
The cancellation of a parallel registration two hundred dollars (U.S. $ 200.00)
The registration of definitive mortgages, will pay according to the tonnage as follows:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
1 1000 $150
1001 10,000 $300
10,001 And Over $600
Registration of title to a ship navigating in international waters or national, pays according to the tonnage as follows:
From (GT) Up to (GT) US$
1 1000 $250
1001 10,000 $400
10,001 And Over $600

Contact

General Maritime Directorate of the Merchant Marine of Honduras
c
Tel: (504) 2236-8880, 2221-3033, 2221-0721, 2221-1987
Fax: (504) 2236-8866
Web: http://www.marinamercante.gob.hn

Ship Registration:
Abg. Mirna Regina Chain
registro@marinamercante.gob.hn

Stockholm Agreement 96
IMO Convention 48
* IMO amendments 91 
* IMO amendments 93
SOLAS Convention 74
SOLAS Protocol 78
SOLAS Protocol 88
LOAD LINES Convention 66
LOAD LINES Protocol 88
TONNAGE Convention 69
COLREG  Convention 72
CSC Convention 72
CSC amendments 93
SFV Protocol 93
STCW  Convention 78
STCW-F Convention 95
SAR  Convention 79
STP Agreement 71
STP Protocol 73
IMSO Convention 76
INMARSAT OA 76
INMARSAT amendments 94
INMARSAT amendments 98
IMSO amendments 2006
IMSO amendments 2008
FACILITATION Convention 65
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex I/II)
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex IV)
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex V)
MARPOL Protocol 97 (Annex VI)
London Convention 72
London Convention Protocol 96
INTERVENTION Convention 69
INTERVENTION Protocol 73
CLC Convention 69
CLC Protocol 76
CLC Protocol 92
FUND Convention 71
FUND Protocol 92
FUND Protocol 2003
NUCLEAR Convention 71
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex III)
PAL Protocol 76
PAL Protocol 90
PAL Protocol 02
LLMC Convention 76
LLMC Protocol 96
SUA Convention 2005
SUA Protocol 2005
SALVAGE Convention 89
OPRC  Convention 90
HNS Convention 96
OPRC/HNS 2000
BUNKERS CONVENTION 01
ANTI FOULING 01
BALLASTWATER 2004
NAIROBI WRC 2007
HONG KONG CONVENTION
HNS PROT 2010
Cape Town Agreement 2012
SUA Convention 88
SUA Protocol 88

IMO Conventions

Status of Conventions Honduras

IMO Convention 48 x
SOLAS Convention 74 x
SOLAS Protocol 78 x
SOLAS Protocol 88 x
SOLAS Agreement 96
LOAD LINES Convention 66 x
LOAD LINES Protocol 88 x
TONNAGE Convention 69 x
COLREG Convention 72 x
CSC Convention 72 x
CSC amendments 93
SFV Protocol 93
Cape Town Agreement 2012
STCW Convention 78 x
STCW-F Convention 95
SAR Convention 79 x
STP Agreement 71
Space STP Protocol 73
IMSO Convention 76
INMARSAT OA 76
IMSO amendments 2006
IMSO amendments 2008 x
FACILITATION Convention 65 x
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex I/II) x
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex III) x
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex IV) x
MARPOL 73/78 (Annex V) x
MARPOL Protocol 97 (Annex VI) x
London Convention 72 x
London Convention Protocol 96
INTERVENTION Convention 69
INTERVENTION Protocol 73
CLC Convention 69 x
CLC Protocol 76
CLC Protocol 92 x
FUND Protocol 76
FUND Protocol 92
FUND Protocol 2003
NUCLEAR Convention 71
PAL Convention 74
PAL Protocol 76
PAL Protocol 90
PAL Protocol 02
LLMC Convention 76
LLMC Protocol 96
SUA Convention 88 x
SUA Protocol 88 x
SUA Convention 2005
SUA Protocol 2005
SALVAGE Convention 89
OPRC Convention 90 x
HNS Convention 96
HNS PROT 2010
OPRC/HNS 2000
BUNKERS CONVENTION 01
ANTI FOULING 2001
BALLASTWATER 2004 x
NAIROBI WRC 2007
HONG KONG CONVENTION

x: Accession/ratification
d: Denunciation

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