# The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993, Regulation 28: Evidence of title on ... registration

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) An application to register a ship ..., other than an application in respect of a fishing vessel requiring simple registration, must be supported by the following evidence of title:—
(a) in the case of a new ship, the builder’s certificate;
(b) in the case of a ship which is not new, ...
(i) in respect of a pleasure vessel,
(a) a previous bill or bills of sale showing the ownership of the ship for at least 5 years before the application is made, or
(b) if the ship has been registered with a full registration at any time within the last 5 years, a bill or bills of sale evidencing all transfers of ownership during the period since it was so registered, ...
(ii) in respect of a fishing vessel,
(a) a previous bill or bills of sale showing the ownership of the vessel for at least 3 years before the application is made, or
(b) if the ship has been registered with full registration at any time within the last 3 years, a bill or bills of sale evidencing all transfers of ownership during the period since it was so registered, or
(c) evidence that the vessel has been for at least 3 years continuously registered as a British fishing vessel with simple registration in the names of the owners applying to be registered and remains so registered;or
(iii) in respect of a ship other than a pleasure vessel or a fishing vessel, one bill of sale showing the most recent transfer of ownership;
(c) where the evidence required by sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above is not available, other evidence of title satisfactory to the Registrar.
(2) Where a ship has entered the Register by virtue of paragraph (1)(b)(iii) and subsequently becomes a pleasure vessel or a fishing vessel, the owner shall then provide the title evidence required under paragraph (1)(b)(i) or (ii) respectively or under paragraph (1)(c) for the ship to remain eligible to be registered.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/3138/regulation/28 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-registration-of-ships-regulations-1993/regulation-28
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.