Romania
Shipowner Eligibility
The Romanian registry is open to shipowners of all nationalities.
About the Flag
Romania is located in southeastern Europe, on the lower Danube River with access to the Black Sea. On the western Coast of the Black Sea lies Constanta with Romania's largest seaport. The ancient metropolis is 185 miles away from the Bosphorus Strait. Romania is a semi-parliamentary Republic with two legislative bodies: Senate and Chamber of Representatives. It is a member of the EU, IMO and UN.
The Romanian Naval Authority and the Romanian Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure ensure efficiency in registry operations.
Company Formation
Romania recommends establishing a legal entity in form of S.r.l. (Societate cu răspundere limitată) to act as a Bareboat-Charterer of the vessel to fly the Romanian flag. This Limited Liability Company is the most popular vehicle for carrying on business activities in Romania by local and foreign investors because of the low administrative requirements, greater flexibility and low initial capital requirements compared to other types of companies.
Romania also recommends ensuring that the establishment of the S.r.l. is done through a service provider, who is familiar with the necessities of a shipping company and the Romanian legal structure. The company needs a domicile in Romania and has to file annual returns. Romania closely works together with RCR-Service GmbH, who provide excellent management practices on establishing and maintaining all services, needed to operate a S.r.l. in Romania. With this, service availability for any legal process is granted.
Taxation
As Romania is an EU member state, those registered with the flag can opt into the tonnage tax.
Registration and Documentation
For the issuance of the:
• Certificate of Registry
• Ship Radio Station License
• Minimum Safe Manning Certificate
• Bunker CLC Certificate
• CLC Certificate (If Applicable)
• LRIT Test Certificate
• CSR (After Completion Of Registration Process)
The following documents are required:
• One duly signed original of the Application for Registration form
• One copy of extract of Romanian Corporate Registry (not older than 4 weeks at registration) naming the persons acting on behalf of the Bareboat Charterer
• One duly signed original Proof of Ownership (Bill of Sale)
• One original proof of present registry evidencing that the vessel is free and clear from recorded liens and encumbrances
• One original Deletion Certificate from previous registry
• Confirmation of Class issued by the vessel’s current Class Society (not older than 10 days at registration), to be sent by class society
• Class Statement or Affidavit, which contains the following information, to be sent by class society:
• A Status of Survey Report,
• Details of any outstanding conditions and/or recommendations/deficiencies relating to class or statutory certificates,
• A list of the relevant statutory certificates which class is prepared to issue on behalf of Romania, and
• Any reason(s) why the vessel is currently not fit to proceed to sea
• One copy of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969)
• One copy of each of the ISM Declaration of “Company” and “Designated Person”
• One copy of the Application for Minimum Safe Manning Certification
• One copy of the Application for Ship Radio Station License
• One electronic original Blue Card for the Bunker Civil Liability Convention for Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) for vessel of more than 1,000 gross tons
• One electronic original Proof of Liability Insurance (P&I Cover Note/Certificate of Entry/Confirmation of Entry or Declaration of Entry). The Proof must include coverage of bareboat charterer’s crew repatriation obligations.
• One original abstract of the foreign register of ships, evidencing the ownership and recorded mortgages
• One original written consent of the appropriate Maritime Authority of the country of the foreign registry (in case the vessel is of German origin, a certified true copy of the “Officially Authorized Extract from the Ship Certificate” in which the bareboat charter period is specified)
• Payment of fees
Submit the following documents:
• Ship Security Assessment and Ship Security plan must be submitted to the Administration preceding the Interim Security Verification (ISPS Code/19.4.2)
• (Interim) Document of Compliance (SOLAS, IX/4.1) issued by authorized RO
• (Interim) International Ship Security Certificate (ISPS-Code) issued by authorized RSO (to be provided after registration)
• LRIT Equipment Test conducted by one of the following organizations:
• Pole Star Space Application Limited
• Fulcrum Maritime Systems Ltd.
• CLS
• TRANSNAS Telematics Ltd.
Ships which have on board a LRIT Conformance Test listing one of the above authorized Testing ASPs are not required to be re-tested. Ships which do not have on board an LRIT Conformance Test listing one of the above authorized Testing ASPs are required to have a new Conformance Test of the LRIT equipment by one of the authorized testing ASPs, which shall be conducted soonest possible upon activation of the Inmarsat Mobile Number (IMN). Upon a successful test, the ASP should inform the registry and a new LRIT Conformance Test Certificate will be issued.
• Company Security Officer (CSO) Declaration
• CSRs (complete file) issued by foreign administrations
• CSR amendment form
• The following additional requirements may apply depending on vessel’s age and type:
For vessels that are fifteen (15) years of age or older, copies of the following Class and Statutory Survey Reports must be reviewed prior to registration; the most recent Special Survey, Drydock (bottom) Survey, if conducted since last Special Survey and Statutory Survey Reports should be sent to the registry by the class society.
One electronic original Blue Card for tankers carrying more than 2,000 net tons of oil in bulk as cargo
Bareboat Charter Registration
For the issuance of the:
• Certificate of Romanian Bareboat Charter Registry
• Ship Radio Station License
• Minimum Safe Manning Certificate
• Bunker CLC Certificate
• CLC Certificate (If Applicable)
• LRIT Test Certificate
• CSR (After Completion Of Registration Process)
The following documents are required:
• One duly signed original of the Application for Romanian Bareboat Charter Registration form
• One copy of extract of Romanian Corporate Registry (not older than 4 weeks at registration) naming the persons acting on behalf of the Bareboat Charterer
• One duly signed original Bareboat Charterparty Agreement
• One duly signed Preferred Mortgagee(s) Letter of Consent on Mortgagee(s) letterhead for each mortgagee
• Confirmation of Class issued by the vessel’s current Class Society (not older than 10 days at registration), to be sent to info@eu-registry.com by class society
• Class Statement or Affidavit, which contains the following information, to be sent to info@eu-registry.com by class society:
• A Status of Survey Report,
• Details of any outstanding conditions and/or recommendations/deficiencies relating to class or statutory certificates,
• A list of the relevant statutory certificates which class is prepared to issue on behalf of Romania, and
• Any reason(s) why the vessel is currently not fit to proceed to sea
• One copy of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969)
• One copy of each of the ISM Declaration of “Company” and “Designated Person”
• One copy of the Application for Minimum Safe Manning Certification
• One copy of the Application for Ship Radio Station License
• One electronic original Blue Card for the Bunker Civil Liability Convention for Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) for vessel of more than 1,000 gross tons
• One electronic original Proof of Liability Insurance (P&I Cover Note/Certificate of Entry/Confirmation of Entry or Declaration of Entry). The Proof must include coverage of bareboat charterer’s crew repatriation obligations.
• One original abstract of the foreign register of ships, evidencing the ownership and recorded mortgages
• One original written consent of the appropriate Maritime Authority of the country of the foreign registry (in case the vessel is of German origin, a certified true copy of the “Officially Authorized Extract from the Ship Certificate” in which the bareboat charter period is specified)
• Payment of fees
Submit the following documents to maritime@eu-registry.com:
• The Ship Security Assessment and Ship Security plan must be submitted to the Administration preceding the Interim Security Verification (ISPS Code/19.4.2)
• (Interim) Document of Compliance (SOLAS, IX/4.1) issued by authorized RO
• (Interim) International Ship Security Certificate (ISPS-Code) issued by authorized RSO (to be provided after registration)
• LRIT Equipment Test conducted by one of the following organizations:
• Pole Star Space Application Limited
• Fulcrum Maritime Systems Ltd.
• CLS
• TRANSNAS Telematics Ltd.
(Ships which have on board a LRIT Conformance Test listing one of the above authorized Testing ASPs are not required to be re-tested. Ships which do not have on board an LRIT Conformance Test listing one of the above authorized Testing ASPs are required to have a new Conformance Test of the LRIT equipment by one of the authorized testing ASPs, which shall be conducted soonest possible upon activation of the Inmarsat Mobile Number (IMN). Upon a successful test, the ASP should inform maritime@eu-registry.com and a new LRIT Conformance Test Certificate will be issued.
• Company Security Officer (CSO) Declaration
• CSRs (complete file) issued by foreign administrations
• CSR amendment form
The following additional requirements may apply depending on vessel’s age and type:
• for vessels that are fifteen (15) years of age or older, copies of the following Class and Statutory Survey Reports must be reviewed prior to registration; the most recent Special Survey, Drydock (bottom) Survey, if conducted since last Special Survey and Statutory Survey Reports should be sent to info@eu-registry.com by the class society.
• one electronic original Blue Card for tankers carrying more than 2,000 net tons of oil in bulk as cargo
Vessel and Yacht Eligibility & Survey Requirements
The registry accepts vessels up to 15 years of age. Vessels of above 15 years (if eligible of registration) are subject to a special pre-registration survey. Additional charges may apply.
RIFA does not accept single hull tankers, fishing vessels or pleasure crafts.
Only IACS members are authorized to act RO/RSO.
Crewing
Crew members need to be certified in accordance with the international regulations of STCW 95 and need to be in possession of a valid national seaman's book. RIFA will endorse the national licenses of each individual seafarer. To reduce the bureaucratic burden and to avoid expenses for the clients, RIFA issues neither Romanian national licenses, nor additional Romanian seamen's books for international crew members serving on board Romanian flagged vessels. The Romanian "Certificate of Endorsement" provides evidence that all national licenses have been checked and approved.
The "Certificate of Endorsement" is valid in combination with the national license and all documentation indicated on the Certificate. The "Certificate of Endorsement" is the only crew related document issued by RIFA. No additional crew related documents are required.
Mortgages
For more information, contact the registry: http://www.mt.gov.ro
Fees
The registry charges one annual flat fee. To request a quote, contact rifa@eu-registry.com.
Contact
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
Dinicu Golescu Boulevard no. 38,
Sector 1,
Bucharest,
Postal code 010873,
Romania
Phone:
Public Relations - Registry 0374.808.610 - Fax - 021.313.88.69
Fax:
CFR Central - 021.319.95.65; 021.319.95.28
Mobile:
Communication and Social Dialogue Department - tel - 0374.808.610, fax - 021.319.61.00
http://www.mt.gov.ro
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 Romania
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 x
SFV Protocol 93
Cape Town Agreement 2012
STCW Convention 78 x
STCW-F Convention 95 x
SAR Convention 79 x
STP Agreement 71
Space STP Protocol 73
IMSO Convention 76 x
INMARSAT OA 76 x
IMSO amendments 2006
IMSO amendments 2008
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
London Convention Protocol 96
INTERVENTION Convention 69
INTERVENTION Protocol 73
CLC Convention 69
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 x
LLMC Convention 76 x
LLMC Protocol 96 x
SUA Convention 88 x
SUA Protocol 88 x
SUA Convention 2005
SUA Protocol 2005
SALVAGE Convention 89 x
OPRC Convention 90 x
HNS Convention 96
HNS PROT 2010
OPRC/HNS 2000
BUNKERS CONVENTION 01 x
ANTI FOULING 2001 x
BALLASTWATER 2004
NAIROBI WRC 2007 x
HONG KONG CONVENTION
x= ratification
d=denunciation