SHIPS’ NAMES ġ S.L.234.01 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 234.01
SHIPS’ NAMES REGULATIONS
1st June, 1973
LEGAL NOTICE 55 of 1973.
Title.
Interpretation.
Cap. 234.
2. In these regulations, words and phrases used shall have the
same meaning as is assigned to them in the Merchant Shipping Act.
Notice of ship’s 
name.
3. An owner of a ship who proposes to make application for
the registry of a Maltese ship shall give notice in writing of the
proposed name to the registrar at the intended port of registry at
least ten days before the date on which it is proposed to effect the
registry, and that registrar shall transmit the notice to the
Registrar-General.
Approval of ship’s 
name.
4. When the proposed name is not already the name of a
registered Maltese ship, or it is not a name so similar to that of a
registered Maltese ship as to be likely to deceive, the
Registrar-General shall issue a certificate to that effect to the
registrar at the intended port of registry, and provided all
requirements for registry have been duly complied with, that
registrar shall register the ship under that name.
Refusal of ship’s 
name.
5. When the proposed name is found to be already the name
of a registered Maltese ship or a name so similar as to be likely to
deceive, the Registrar-General may refuse the registry of that ship
by that name, and shall intimate his decision to the registrar of the
intended port of registry who will inform the owner accordingly.
Temporary 
approval of ship’s 
name.
6.  (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the last
preceding regulation, the Registrar-General may allow temporarily
the registry of a ship by a name which is already the name of a
Maltese ship if he is satisfied that the case is one of urgency and
that the ship will be delayed if registration by the name proposed
by the owner is refused.
(2) Where the registry of a ship by a name has been
temporarily allowed under subregulation (1), the Registrar-General
shall require the owner to give to the registrar at the intended port
of registry a written guarantee to change, within twelve months, the
name of the ship, to a name allowed by the Registrar-General.
