Definitive Naval Registry Instructional Guide
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA EL TRANSPORTE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AQUATIC SPACES
VENEZUELAN NAVAL REGISTRY OFFICE – MAIN HEADQUARTERS
Requirements and Procedure for the Registration of Vessels in the Venezuelan Naval Registry
A) WHICH VESSELS CAN BE REGISTERED IN THE VENEZUELAN NAVAL REGISTRY?
In accordance with the provisions of Article 130 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
The following vessels may be registered in the Venezuelan Naval Registry:
- Vessels owned by Venezuelan citizens.
- Vessels owned by Venezuelan legal entities, duly constituted and domiciled in the Country.
- Vessels owned by foreign investors who comply with the regulations regarding foreign capital participation and who are established and domiciled in the Country.
- Foreign-registered vessels, leased or chartered under a bareboat charter party (by any of the natural or legal persons mentioned in the preceding items) for a period equal to or greater than one (1) year.
- Foreign-registered vessels, granted under a financial lease (leasing) to the natural or legal persons mentioned in the first three items.
- Vessels built in domestic shipyards, regardless of the owner’s nationality.
B) WHERE MUST THEY BE REGISTERED?
In accordance with the provisions of Articles 100 and 101 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
- Vessels with a gross tonnage equal to or greater than five hundred gross tonnage units (500 GRT) must be registered at the Main Headquarters of the Venezuelan Naval Registry, located at: Av. Orinoco entre calles Perijá y Mucuchíes, Las Mercedes, Edif. INEA – Floor 05, Caracas, Distrito Capital.
- Vessels with a gross tonnage of less than five hundred gross tonnage units (less than 500 GRT) must be registered at the Venezuelan Naval Registry offices located within the Port Captaincies (Capitánias de Puertos) nationwide.
C) WHO CAN REQUEST REGISTRATION BEFORE RENAVE?
In accordance with Article 112 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
The record and registration of titles, acts, or contracts referred to in the preceding articles may be requested indistinctly by:
- The party transferring the right.
- The party acquiring the right.
- Anyone holding the legal representation of either of the above.
- Anyone with a direct interest in securing the right to be registered.
- The competent judicial authority that issued the respective ruling.
D) HOW SHOULD YOU SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION APPLICATION BEFORE RENAVE?
- The user must fill out the application and provide the basic details (identification, address, telephone, fax, and email) of the interested party or the company name of the legal entity, as well as the capacity in which they are acting; if acting as a power of attorney, they must also provide the vessel’s details (GRT, NRT, dimensions, etc.). The user must indicate the capacity in which they act depending on the procedure.
- The User submits the request to the Venezuelan Naval Registry using the “REGISTRATION APPLICATION” form, along with the required documentation (Documents to be Submitted according to the Vessel Registration Procedure), in compliance with the requirements established in the regulations of this procedure.
WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE NAVAL REGISTRY FOR REGISTRATION?
In accordance with Article 111 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
- Registration Application addressed to the Naval Registry Office, which must contain:
- Identification, address, telephone numbers, and email of the interested party or company name of the legal entity, and the capacity in which they act, in case of a representative.
- In the case of registering vessels that already have a Venezuelan registration number (matrícula), the name and registration number must be indicated, as well as the international call sign, if one has been assigned.
- In the case of foreign-flagged vessels to be included in the Naval Registry, the name, tonnage, flag, main characteristics, and dimensions must be specified.
- Title or titles proving ownership of the vessel: Original and Two (02) Legal-sized (Oficio) Copies.
- When dealing with the inclusion of vessels that have already been registered in Subordinate Registry Offices (which hold a Venezuelan registration), simple copies of the aforementioned titles may be presented, which will be verified by the Naval Registrar against the original entries.
- When dealing with the registration of foreign-flagged vessels to be included in the Naval Registry, the bill of sale, bareboat charter party, or financial lease agreement, as the case may be, must be presented, duly translated into Spanish by a certified public interpreter, if necessary. This translation must be authenticated before a Public Notary.
- When the title to be registered is contained within a judicial decision, a certified copy of the writ ordering the measure or the record of adjudication must be presented.
- International Tonnage Certificate. Tonnage Certificate in cases where applicable.
- In the event that the applicant is a legal entity, a simple copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the company must be submitted, as well as a copy of the current Fiscal Information Registry (RIF).
- Technical specifications of the vessel.
- If the vessel flies a foreign flag, it must present the deletion or suspension certificate of the foreign flag, issued by the Maritime Authority of the country of origin (original, legalized, and apostilled).
- Civil liability insurance policy (in accordance with the provisions of Article 43 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities) or P&I / Hull and Machinery Insurance.
- Two (02) Photographs of the vessel.
- Physical and Documentary Inspection Report.
- Nationalization or Temporary Admission Document of the Vessel, issued by SENIAT.
- Power of Attorney with a validity not exceeding one year (plus a copy of the Identity Card and RIF of the representative).
- General Arrangement and Conditions Plan on a 1:100 scale.
E) VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
In accordance with Articles 107, 108, and 114 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
Both vessels under construction and any liens or encumbrances intended to be placed upon them may be subject to provisional registration.
- For this purpose, the shipbuilding or construction contract must be presented, or failing that, a proforma invoice issued by the builder, which shall contain the specifications of the vessel to be built.
- Once construction is completed, the owner must apply for definitive registration by presenting the Certificate of Construction.
F) NAVAL MORTGAGES
In accordance with Articles 130 and 131 of the Decree with Rank, Value, and Force of Law on Marinas and Connected Activities:
Documents creating, modifying, or extinguishing naval mortgages on existing domestic vessels or those under construction shall take legal effect once they have been registered in the Venezuelan Naval Registry.
The naval mortgage document must contain the following:
- Name, surname, nationality, and domicile of the creditor and the debtor, address of the creditor, and, in the case of legal entities, their business name or corporate name and domiciles, as well as the data regarding the registry in which they are recorded.
- Name, number, class, call sign, and registration number (matrícula) of the vessel.
- Gross tonnage, maximum length (eslora máxima), and other main characteristics of the vessel.
- Definition of the scope of the guarantee (e.g., agreements extending to freights, compensations, etc.).
- Date and nature of the contract generating the secured credit.
- The maximum amount guaranteed and the method for calculating interest.
RENAVE CONTACT
Note: This instructional guide is for informational purposes only. For official procedures, consult directly with the Venezuelan Naval Registry Office (RENAVE) of INEA and verify the current validity of the applicable regulations.
