Update your registration

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 (WORD 13.65 KB).

Application for change of home port

You must pay a non-refundable fee when lodging your application.

Learn more about shipping registration fees and payment options.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Application for change of name of a registered ship

You must pay a non-refundable fee when lodging your application.

Learn more about shipping registration fees and payment options.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alteration certificate

The registered agent should complete this form to declare the changes have been made to your vessel.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

The new registration certificate with be posted to you.