Open a Shipping Company in Malta

Malta is a renowned international maritime center and registering a vessel under the Maltese flag has many advantages for foreign shipping companies. Currently, the Malta Ship Registry is the 6^th largest register in the world. Maltese shipping companies may register any type of vessel, according to the Merchant Shipping Act with very low set-up and maintenance costs. There are no limitations with respect to shipping company ownership or trading in Malta. Also, Maltese companies registering vessels will also benefit from significant tax exemptions and reduced VAT rates for pleasure yachts.

Shipping company registration in Malta

Shipping companies are registered according to the Merchant Shipping Act of 1973 and must be incorporated as private or limited liability companies or partnerships in Malta. The most employed type of company, however, remains the private limited liability company registered under the latest Merchant Shipping Regulations from 2004. A Maltese company qualifies as a shipping company if it is licensed by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and has one of the following objects of activity:

– owns a vessel,
– operates a vessel,
– manages a vessel registered under the Malta Flag.

Shipping companies may also operate as Maltese holding companies provided that they are authorized by Transport Malta (Merchant Shipping Directorate). All shipping companies in Malta must obtain an International Maritime Organization Number before incorporation. Re-domiciliation of companies to and from Malta is already possible under the Continuation of Companies Regulations.

Required documents for shipping company registration in Malta

The most important documents when registering a shipping company in Malta are the articles of association that must specify:

– the company is a shipping company according to the Merchant Shipping Act,
– the company is a private entity,
– the name and address of each shareholder,
– the legal address of the company,
– the name of the company,
– the object of activity as required by the Merchant Shipping Act,
– the Maltese company’s share capital,
– the number, names and residence of the directors,
– the name of the legal representative of the company.

Our lawyers in Malta may draft the articles of association for customers’ shipping companies.

Available NACE codes for shipping companies in Malta

Depending on the activities a Maltese company will undertake, the following codes in the Nomenclature of Economic Activities are available under Section H (Transportation and storage) of NACE Rev. 2:

– 50 for water transport,
– 50.10 and 50.20 for sea and coastal passenger and freight water transport,
– 50.30 and 50.40 for inland passenger and freight water transport.

For complete information about the Merchant Shipping Act regulations for shipping companies, you may contact our Maltese lawyers.