The St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg), an International Open register, falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport & Posts.  Its management systems have been accredited to ISO 9001:2000 by ABS QE. The registry started in 2005 and has presently registered over 350 ships with a total deadweight of approximately one million tons. (June 2007). Hubel Marine b.v. is appointed since 19th july 2006 as Maritime Registrar.

St. Kitts & Nevis is a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO)

There are no restrictions on ownership of St. Kitts and Nevis ships, this being available to both local and foreign corporations and individuals. Appointment of a Maritime Resident Agent in the Federation, is required.

The capitals and Ports of Registry of St. Kitts & Nevis are respectively, Basseterre & Charlestown. With its Operational Head Office located in the suburbs of London, UK.  Hubel Marine is empowered as Maritime Registrar to issue vessel registration & Crew documentation in their Schiedam based office. All applications are processed with a quick turnaround time.

A competitive fee structure and fast-turnaround of Applications assist ship owners in today’s world of commercial pressures and instant communication. Mortgages can be registered as well through Hubel Marine b.v.

International Conventions

St. Kitts & Nevis has been a member of IMO since 2001. It has acceded to the following IMO Conventions.

IMO Convention 1948, with 1991 and 1993 amendments

SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and Protocol of 1978 as amended Protocol of 1988 relating to SOLAS, 1974

STCW 78 - International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers,1978

MARPOL 73/78 - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocols of 1978 and 1997 thereto (MARPOL Annexes I to VI)

ILL 1966 - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966

LL Prot, 1988 - Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966

COLREG 72 - Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972

ITC 1969 - International Convention on Tonnage Measurements of Ships (Tonnage), 1969

CLC Prot. 1992 - International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 (CLC69) and Protocol relating to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (CLC 92)

SAR - International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979

LONDON – Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972

FAL – Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1965

SALV - International Convention on Salvage, 1989

SUA - Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988

FUND - Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 (Fund Prot, 1992).

HNS - International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS 1996)

INTERVENTION - International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties 1969

OPRC - International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990

UNCLOS - United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982

BWM - Ballast Water Management, 2004

AFS - Anti-Fouling Systems, 2001