What do I need to do?

To change your ship name, you need to:

Check the list of registered ships

You need to check the list of registered ships to ensure that your choice of name has not already been taken. No two vessels on the Australian Shipping Register can have the same name. To check whether a ship name is already registered, you can search the list of registered ships.

The following names will not be approved:

• Names of existing registered ships, even if they are spelt differently. If the name can be confused with or mistaken for a name that has already been allocated to another vessel, it won’t be approved.
• Names that could be offensive.
• Names that falsely suggest a connection to the royal family, the Crown, the Commonwealth of Nations, the government, the United Nations, the defence force.
• Names that include a prefix that indicate a type of ship ie F.V, M.V, M.Y

Complete the form

Application for change of name of a registered ship

Pay the application fee

Before you send us your application, pay the fee online.

Record your payment reference number in the ‘Submitting your application’ section on your application form.

Lodge your application form and supporting documentation

Send the original completed forms with the original registration certificate to:

Shipping Registration Office
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
PO Box 255
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Wait for us to let you know

We will let you know if there is any additional information that we need to process your application. If we have received everything we need, we will send you a Marking Note with instructions on how to mark your vessel.

Mark your ship

On completion of the marking of the ship the Marking Note must be signed by the owner and witnessed. The original must be returned to the Shipping Registration Office, along with any outstanding documents we have requested.

Application completed

On receipt of the Marking Note we will finalise the registration of your ship and send you the registration certificate. The original certificate must be kept aboard the vessel.