Maritime Cook Islands : ShipRegistration
Cook Islands operates an open register for ships and yachts via a network of Deputy Registrars around the world.
Maritime Cook Islands performs all Flag State duties for the Cook Islands government through an agreement with the Ministry of Transport.
As a ship or yacht owner, you can easily qualify to register ships or yachts through membership of the Cook Islands Ship Owners Association (CISOA) or Cook Islands Yacht Squadron (CIYS) or by establishing a Cook Islands International Company or by registering an existing Foreign Company on the Cook Islands International Companies Register.
Cook Islands requires that all ships that fly our flag comply with all of the relevant international maritime conventions but we do not impose any additional requirements beyond IMO Conventions and IACS Unified Interpretations.
Their ship or yacht registration process is simple and efficient and can be completed with the assistance of your nearest Deputy Registrar.
They issue Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention Certificates and Bunkers Convention Certificates to ships registered in non-State parties with valid Blue Cards from an approved P&I Insurer. Their online application process is simple and efficient and is accessible from anywhere in the world, 24/7 over 365 days a year.
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended.
The Cook Islands are party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended.
The STCW Certification Department of Maritime Cook Islands is responsible for the implementation of the STCW across the Cook Islands Ships Registry, in ensuring that all seafarers serving aboard Cook Islands vessels are appropriately trained, qualified, and certified in accordance with the regulations and requirements of the STCW.
The STCW requires deck and engineer officers and radio operators as defined in Regulation I/1 of the STCW Convention, as amended, to possess STCW or STCW equivalent (Non-STCW) documentation. This includes officers and seafarers fulfilling capacities indicated on the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate (MSMC) issued for the vessel.
Seafarers intending to serve in Officer capacities aboard Cook Islands vessels to which the STCW applies are required to apply for Flag Endorsement prior to embarkation.
Maritime Cook Islands accepts CoC’s, CoPs, and Non-STCW Qualifications issued by States listed on the IMO STCW Whitelist for Endorsement and service aboard Cook Islands vessels.
The Government of The Cook Islands appointed Captain Ian Finley as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to IMO in 2006. He is now one of the longest-serving permanent representatives at IMO.
