Registry Forms

  • FIRST-TIME REGISTRATION
    • Vessels that will be used for commercial purposes have a gross tonnage of 15 or more as well as a 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) motor or greater must register their vessel. Those wishing to apply for a marine mortgage should also register their vessel. Registration is valid for five years.
  • REGISTRATION OF A GOVERNMENT VESSEL
    • This is the link for the application for the registration of a government-owned vessel. This form requires information such as the title and address of the person signing on behalf of the department or ministry, and more. This registration is valid for five years.
  • RENEWAL
    • Canadian vessel registration must be renewed every five years. Vessel owners are notified by Transport Canada in writing of the upcoming expiration of their registration 45 days before the deadline. The responsibility of renewal ultimately is the vessel owner’s. Rush processing is available.
  • TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
    • This form transfers the vessel’s official number to a new owner. Vessel owners can only be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, corporations incorporated under particular laws, or an Indian Band registered with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. This form cannot be used to transfer ownership of a pleasure craft.
  • DELETION
    • Apply for your vessel’s closing from the Canadian Register of Vessels with this form. You can delete your vessel from the registry if it is sold to a foreign citizen, it has been removed from service, if it has been wrecked, or if it has been lost.
  • MORTGAGE
    • This form enables you to apply for a mortgage to be recorded against a vessel of yours that is currently registered under the Canada Register of Vessels. You can use a registered vessel you own or own a share of as security for a loan or other consideration. A mortgage cannot be recorded against the vessel unless the vessel has a valid Certificate of Registry. To be eligible for a mortgage, your vessel must first be registered. 
  • CHANGE OF VESSEL NAME AND/OR TRANSFER OF PORT OF REGISTRY
    • Use this form to change the name of your vessel in addition to, if you so choose, your vessel’s port of registry. You can only use this form to change the name and/or port of registry of a vessel that is currently registered. You can change these as many times as you would like.
  • ALTERATIONS
    • Use this form to update your vessel’s registration if you have made alterations to its horsepower, propulsion type, descriptor, length, or tonnage. Do not use this form if you have completely rebuilt your vessel. Do not use this form to change your vessel’s name or port of registry.
  • REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE
    • Use this form to apply for a replacement Certificate of Registry.  All Canadian registered vessels are required to carry a valid Certificate of Registry on board the vessel. You must acquire a new certificate if your certificate has been stolen, lost, or destroyed.
  • TRANSMISSION ON DEATH/BANKRUPTCY
    • Use this form to apply for the transfer of ownership of a registered Canadian vessel in the event that the vessel’s owner has passed away or gone bankrupt. Only certain parties are able to make this request. In the event there are joint owners, then each owner must complete a separate Declaration.
  • TRANSCRIPTSPROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE
    • Use this form to apply for a Provisional Certificate of Registry. You may be eligible for a provisional certificate if all documentation for the first-time registration (as well as the fee) has been received and, additionally, the vessel has yet to perform sea trials (request from the builder) and only tonnage measurement papers have not yet been submitted.
  • TRANSCRIPTS
    • Use this form to learn more about a particular registered Canadian vessel. A vessel transcript may include information regarding the name of the vessel (as well as past names), the name of the owner(s), the chain of ownership, the port(s) of registry, and any encumbrances among others.
  • HISTORICAL RESEARCH
    • Use this form to receive historical research about a vessel that is or was previously registered. This information can be pulled from the Ship Registration Computer System Database (for vessels registered from 1984 to present) as well as microfilm, the Canadian Register of Vessels, or Archives Canada’s Ship Registration Index Database (among other sources).
  • BARE-BOAT CHARTERED VESSELS
    • Apply for a bareboat charter with this form. In a bareboat charter, the vessel owner leases their commercial vessel to another party. This other party, the “charterer,” will have complete possession and control of the vessel.
  • APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS
    • Use this form to change the mailing address attached to your Certificate of Registry for a vessel that is currently registered. Do not use this form to change the address on a Pleasure Craft Licence.