Once a ship is Australian registered, you must tell us about any changes to the ownership or particulars of the vessel.
You will need to tell us about any of the following changes:
- name, address or nationality of the owner or registered agent
- change to the name of a registered ship
- change to the home port of a registered ship
- any alterations to the vessel
- applying for a replacement certificate.
What do you need to update?
I need to replace a registration certificate.
Change of home port
What do I need to do?
To change your home port, you need to:
- Select a new home port for the vessel
New South Wales
- Jervis Bay
- Lake Macquarie
- Newcastle
- Port Kembla
- Port Stephens
- Sydney
- Yamba
Northern Territory
- Darwin
- Gove Harbour
Queensland
- Abell Point
- Brisbane
- Bundaberg
- Cairns
- Gladstone
- Hamilton Island
- Hayman Island
- Karumba
- Mackay
- Maryborough
- Mooloolaba
- Mourilyan
- Port Douglas
- Rockhampton
- Southport
- Townsville
- Rosslyn Bay
South Australia
- Goolwa
- Kingston (SE)
- Port Adelaide
- Port Lincoln
- Wallaroo
Tasmania
- Burnie
- Devonport
- Hobart
- Launceston
Victoria
- Geelong
- Melbourne
- Portland
Western Australia
- Broome
- Dampier
- Fremantle
- Port Hedland
If you would like a home port that does not appear on this list then you can apply to have a new home port gazetted.
- Complete the form
- Pay the application fee
You must pay a non-refundable fee when lodging your application.
Learn more about shipping registration fees and payment options.
- 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 us, 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.
Change of ship name
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
- Pay the application fee
You must pay a non-refundable fee when lodging your application.
Learn more about shipping registration fees and payment options.
- 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.
Alteration to a vessel
What do I need to do?
To tell us about any changes you have made to your vessel, you need to:
- Have the person who completed the alteration to your vessel complete an Alteration Certificate
The person who completed the alteration, such as an engine installer or builder, should complete an Alteration certificate. If that person is not available, a person well acquainted with the facts and who knew of the installation/alteration can complete a Statutory Declaration for alteration certificate instead.
- Complete the form
The registered agent should complete this form to declare the changes have been made to your vessel.
- Lodge the forms
Send the original completed Notice of Alteration, Alteration Certificate or Statutory Declaration for Alteration Certificate with the original registration certificate to:
Shipping Registration Office
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 require to process your application. If we have received everything we require, and the length of the vessel has changed, we will send you a marking note with instructions on how to mark your vessel.
- Mark your ship (if required)
If the length of the vessel has changed, 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 us, along with any outstanding documents we have requested.
- Application completed
If there is no change to the length of the vessel your application will be finalised without the need to remark the vessel. If there is a change, when we receive 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.
Change of name, address or nationality
What do I need to do?
If you change your name, address or nationality you must inform the Registrar. This applies to a person or an organisation and you will need to:
- Complete the form
Notice of change of name, address, or nationality
You will also need to provide evidence showing the reason for the change. For example:
- To change a company name you will need a copy of the ASIC certificate of registration on change of name.
- For an individual you will need a copy of a marriage certificate or other document showing evidence of the change.
- If you change nationality you will need to show a passport or another immigration document.
A change to a person's or company’s nationality may affect the eligibility for the vessel to be registered.
- Lodge the form
Send the original completed Notice of change of name, address or nationality with the original registration certificate to:
Shipping Registration Office
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
PO Box 255
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
- Application completed
The new registration certificate with be posted to you.