Vietnam

The shipowner must prepare an application for registration of the vessel and undertake that the vessel will not be used for any purpose that is contrary to the law or detrimental to the interests of Vietnam.

In cases where a trial run is required for newly built vessels or where a vessel is received and transported to the location of official registration on the basis of shipbuilding contracts or contracts for vessel ownership assignment and where a shipowner wishes to register a vessel which is being built in a shipyard, the shipowner may visit the seagoing vessel and crew registration body in the nearest location or the diplomatic representative body or the Vietnamese Consulate to apply for provisional registry.

In order to carry out provisional registration, the following documents must be submitted to the vessel and crew registration body or the diplomatic representative body or the Vietnamese Consulate:

• Application in prescribed form
• Proof of ownership (building contact or contact for transfer of the ownership of the vessel), notarized
• Certificate of Cancellation of ship registration (in respect of used vessels) or permit for delivery of the vessel (in respect of newly built vessels), notarized
• Report on technical safety prepared by the Vietnam Shipping Registry or by an authorized foreign shipping registry (in respect of used ships)

Provisional registration shall be valid for no more than 60 days from the date of issuance of the Certificate of Provisional Registration. Shipowners are responsible for carrying out procedures for permanent registration of vessels at a relevant local vessel and crew registration body within 30 days from the date of receipt of the vessel (where the vessel is received in Vietnam) or from the date of arrival of such vessel at the first Vietnamese port (if the vessel has been received overseas). In order to carry out permanent registration the following documents must be submitted to the local vessel and crew registration body:

• Application in prescribed form
• Certificate of Cancellation of old registration (in respect of used vessels) or certificate of ship delivery (in respect of new vessels)
• Certificate of Provisional Registration, if any
• Proof of ownership (building contract or contract for assignment of ownership or other valid evidence)
• Certificate of Vessel Classification, Certificate of Seaworthiness and Certificate of Tonnage Measurement, all of which must be issued by the Vietnam Shipping Registry or its authorized foreign shipping registry.
• Declaration of names, addresses and shareholdings of each shipowner, if the vessel is owned by more than one owner
• Certificate of payment of excise tax

The following documents are to be presented for review in support of the application for registration:
• Report on the satisfactory completion of a safety inspection by the Vietnam Shipping Registry or its authorized foreign shipping registry
• Ship Radio Station Permit (if the vessel is equipped with a radio station on board)
• Adequate evidence of the ownership of the vessel (the nature of such ownership, whether such vessel is seized, pledged or mortgaged)
• Certificate of Maritime Business Registration, Certificate of Fishing Business (if the vessel specializes in exploring and processing sea products), or other permits issued by an authorized Vietnamese State body

Faxed documents are not accepted.